# NTSB DEN79FA055: Bell 47G3B1, N73963, Rico, CO, August 17, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 17, 1979
- Place: Rico, CO · RICO, CO
- Location: 37.6891° N, 108.0317° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rico, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6891&lon=-108.0317&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 1, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79433
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA055
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA055

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2616  79/8/17  NR.RICO,CO            BELL 47G3B1         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33,
        TIME - 1105                    N73963              PX-  1  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         RICO,CO                      LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: BEARINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- INBOARD ROLLER BEARING FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73963](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73963-2012-05-24), registration cancelled 2012-05-24, S/N 3469, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell TH-13T](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-th-13t) (registry code 1180813) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790817031319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790817031319A), Aug 17, 1979: Bell 47G3B1, Rico, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Helicopter went into right spin. Impacted vertically. Found failed bearing in tail rotor gear.

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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