# NTSB DEN69D0213: Bell 47G3B1, N73285, Albany, WY, March 25, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 25, 1969
- Place: Albany, WY · ALBANY, WY
- Location: 41.1869° N, 106.1255° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albany, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1869&lon=-106.1255&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 12, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187602
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN69D0213
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN69D0213

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0893  69/3/25    ALBANY,WYO          BELL 47G3B1         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1245                    N73285              PX-  0  0  1  CTR PASSG-D               48, 10600 TOTAL HOURS, 77
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              14
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          240                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- HOVERING IN MT AREA SO PX COULD DROP POSTS.M/R STRUCK SNOWBANK.WINDS 20K,GUSTS TO 40K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73285](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73285-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N 2909, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N73285 (3)

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 SEA80FA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FA018), Jan 30, 1980: Bell 47G3B1 (N73285), Jefferson, OR, destroyed, 2 fatal
- [NTSB LAX69D0033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX69D0033), Jun 21, 1968: Bell 47G3B1 (N73285), Alpine, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK68A0010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK68A0010), Aug 6, 1967: Bell 47G-3B (N73285), Clearlake, CA, 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
