# NTSB CHI74FEM62: EL Tomcat I, N73872, Belding, MI, May 29, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 29, 1974
- Place: Belding, MI · BELDING, MI
- Location: 43.0965° N, 85.2330° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Belding, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0965&lon=-85.2330&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130110
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI74FEM62
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74FEM62

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2593  74/5/29    BELDING,MICH        EL TOMCAT I         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1000                    N73872              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 27, 1537 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            900 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        REMARKS- PINION GEARS OF UPR SPIDER ASBLY PN 47-620-424-1 MN TRANS FAILD. ACFT NSED OVR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73872](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73872-2013-07-08), registration cancelled 2013-07-08, S/N CCI-263, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EL TOMCAT I
- Registry model: [Bell 47G](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g) (registry code 1181002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6VS-335 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6vs-335-series) (registry code 27040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19740529016129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740529016129A), May 29, 1974: Bell 47G, Belding, MI, Substantial damage. Pinion gears of upr spider asbly pn 47-620-424-1 MN trans faild. Acft nsed ovr.

## Other investigations on N73872 (5)

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 LAX79DUM13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DUM13), Apr 24, 1979: Bell 47G-2A (N73872), Fallbrook, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX77FUM12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FUM12), Jan 13, 1977: EL Tomcat 47G (N73872), San Diego, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI71FBJ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBJ05), Jul 13, 1970: Bell 47G (N73872), Edmore, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI69F0092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69F0092), Jul 14, 1968: Bell 47G (N73872), Lakeview, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC66A0070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66A0070), Jan 7, 1966: Bell Cntntl (N73872), Philadelphia, PA, 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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