# NTSB DEN79FQA37: Bell 47G, N73998, Socorro, NM, July 6, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 6, 1979
- Place: Socorro, NM · SOCORRO, NM
- Location: 34.0545° N, 106.9062° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Socorro, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0545&lon=-106.9062&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135263
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FQA37
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FQA37

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1955   79/7/6    SOCORRO,NM          BELL 47G            CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 43, 4200
        TIME - 1800                    N73998              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, 70 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SOCORRO,NM                  LOS LUMAS,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        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                                                      85
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       22
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        REMARKS- LIMITED RECENT EXPERIENCE IN RECIP ENG ACFT.DA APPROX 7500FT.NO ENG DISCREPANCIES FOUND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73998](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73998), registered now, S/N 2902, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (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 19790706016429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790706016429A), Jul 6, 1979: Bell 47G, Socorro, NM, Substantial damage. Made hard landing. No engine malfunction found. Possible factors, inexperience and density altitude.

## Other investigations on N73998 (4)

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 CHI94T#A04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94T%23A04), Jun 10, 1994: Bell 47G3B1 (N73998), Medina, MN, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI91DER13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91DER13), Aug 9, 1991: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N73998), Maple Grove, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DURING THE FORCED LANDING. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, LOSS OF ROTOR RPM, THE ERODED COMPRESSOR BLADES, THE…
- [NTSB DEN76FAQ06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76FAQ06), Jul 23, 1975: Bell 47G3B1 (N73998), Belen, NM, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX65A0071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX65A0071), Feb 27, 1965: Bell 47G3B1 (N73998), Bishop, CA, 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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