# NTSB CHI81FET12: Bell 47J, N6734D, Dowagiac, MI, September 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: September 7, 1981
- Place: Dowagiac, MI · DOWAGIAC, MI
- Location: 41.9834° N, 86.1128° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dowagiac, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9834&lon=-86.1128&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123641
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FET12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FET12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1918   81/9/7    DOWAGIAC,MI         BELL 47J            CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 53, 1532
        TIME - 1421                    N6734D              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 235 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DOWAGIAC,MI                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED SPEED AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        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                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      72
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR STRUCK GROUND.WIND GUSTS TO 35KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6734D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6734D-1982-02-11), registration cancelled 1982-02-11, S/N 1750 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J
- Registry model: [Bell 47J](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j) (registry code 1181102) (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 19810907056029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810907056029A), Sep 7, 1981: Bell 47J, Dowagiac, MI, Substantial damage. Tail rotor struck dirt mound while landing in a farm field. Landed hard. Helicopter then rolled over.

## Other investigations on N6734D (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 FTW71AF027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71AF027), Nov 26, 1970: Bell 47J (N6734D), Abbeville, 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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