# NTSB CHI79FEX25: Bell 47J2, N51711, Westfield, IN, May 17, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 17, 1979
- Place: Westfield, IN · WESTFIELD, IN
- Location: 40.0428° N, 86.1275° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westfield, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0428&lon=-86.1275&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136219
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FEX25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEX25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1127  79/5/17    WESTFIELD,IN        BELL 47J2           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 57, 14150
        TIME - 0745                    N51711              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 204 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WESTFIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WESTFIELD,IN                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MISSING
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- MISSING SNAP RING IN DRIVE COUPLING AT FIRST STATION AFT OF MAIN TRANSMISSION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51711](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51711-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 2629, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J2
- Registry model: [Bell 47J-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2) (registry code 1181104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Westfield

## 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 19790517010769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790517010769A), May 17, 1979: Bell 47J2A, Westfield, IN, Substantial damage. Made a hard autorotative landing after failure of tail rotor drive shaft coupling. Inadequate maintenance.

## Other investigations on N51711 (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 NYC88LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA170), Jun 25, 1988: Bell 47J2 (N51711), Newburyport, MA, destroyed

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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