# NTSB DEN74FQA03: Bell 47G5, N6278N, Albuquerque, NM, July 8, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 8, 1973
- Place: Albuquerque, NM · ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189145
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74FQA03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74FQA03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2590   73/7/8    ALBUQUERQUE,N MEX   BELL 47G5           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 1705
        TIME - 1100                    N6278N              PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 64 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,N MEX           LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: TAIL ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPONTANEOUS-IMPROPER ACTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: TAIL ROTOR PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PREVIOUS DAMAGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
        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                                                      88
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          315                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PULLED IN COLLECTIVE AFTR LOSS OF DIR CTL.75% OF WIRES,CABLE #1,DMGD BY WEAR.DENS ALT ABT 8600FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6278N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6278N-1974-06-11), registration cancelled 1974-06-11, S/N 7889, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G5
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (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 19730708020419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730708020419A), Jul 8, 1973: Bell 47G5, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Pulled in collective aftr loss of dir ctl.75 of wires,cable #1,dmgd by wear. Dens alt abt 8600FT.

## Other investigations on N6278N (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 LAX70FUM10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70FUM10), Jun 8, 1970: Bell 47G5 (N6278N), Brawley, 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.

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