# NTSB DEN80FTM16: Bell 47G3B1, N687PH, Vernal, UT, April 30, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 30, 1980
- Place: Vernal, UT · VERNAL, UT
- Location: 40.4517° N, 109.5381° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vernal, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4517&lon=-109.5381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 22, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FTM16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTM16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1826  80/4/30    VERNAL,UT           BELL 47G3B1         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1415                    N687PH              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            AGE 53, 7191 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            1578 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VERNAL,UT                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  7500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      55
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RPM DECAYED AFTER LIFT-OFF.WITNESS RPRTD SUDDEN WND SHIFT DRG TKOF.WND GSTG 18KTS.D/A APRX 6100FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N687PH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- 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 19800430010599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800430010599A), Apr 30, 1980: Bell 47G3B1, Vernal, UT, Substantial damage. Made takeoff into gusty shifting wind. Hit downdraft. RPM delayed. Aborted. Made hard landing. Cut off tail boom.

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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