# NTSB DEN77FTE31: Bell 47G3B2, N665GD, Greeley, CO, April 8, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 8, 1977
- Place: Greeley, CO · GREELEY, CO
- Location: 40.4233° N, 104.7091° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Greeley, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4233&lon=-104.7091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157645
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN77FTE31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77FTE31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0519   77/4/8    GREELEY,CO          BELL 47G3B2         CR-  0  1  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1155                    N665GD              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  AGE 31, 601 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            31 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WELD COUNTY MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GREELEY,CO                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- HOVERING OVER PINNACLE,DRIFTED REARWARD,T/R STRUCK GND,PLT PULLED HEL INTO AIR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N665GD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N665GD), registered now, S/N 6717, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B2
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-2) (registry code 1181029) (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: Destroyed
- Airport: Weld County Muni

## 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 19770408006479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770408006479A), Apr 8, 1977: Bell 47G3B2, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. Hovering over pinnacle,drifted rearward,t/r struck gnd,plt pulled hel into air.

## Other investigations on N665GD (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 DEN72FQA31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN72FQA31), Jan 10, 1972: Bell 47G3B1 (N665GD), Raton, NM, 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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