# NTSB ATL81FA074: Bell 47G2A1, N73263, Covington, KY, May 20, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 20, 1981
- Place: Covington, KY · COVINGTON, KY
- Location: 39.0351° N, 84.5196° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Covington, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0351&lon=-84.5196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125787
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA074
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA074

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1506  81/5/20    COVINGTON,KY        BELL 47G2A1         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 343
        TIME - 1435                    N73263              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 323 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CINCINNATI,OH               ERLANGER,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     360
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- OBSD TO PITCH UP,YAW L&R,GO NOSE DWN DRG LOW ALT HI SPD TURNS.EVIDENCE OF MAST BUMPING,PSBL LO RPM
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73263](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73263-1986-01-02), registration cancelled 1986-01-02, S/N 2858 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G2A1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2a-1) (registry code 1181014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810520029729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810520029729A), May 20, 1981: Bell 47G2A1, Covington, KY, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Helicopter was seen to make abrupt manuevers, then dive nose down to ground. Report indicates mast bumping occurred

## Other investigations on N73263 (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW66A0018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66A0018), Aug 15, 1965: Bell 47G4 (N73263), Intracostl Cty, LA, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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