# NTSB DEN86LA119: Bell 47G-3B-2, N4073G, Santa Fe, NM, April 25, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1986, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Santa Fe, NM
- Location: 35.6171° N, 106.0894° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SANTA FE RGNL (SAF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6171&lon=-106.0894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16952
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA119
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16952/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA119

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - weather condition - turbulence
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing
- Gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,skid assembly - failure,total

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PLT, HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO HOVER THE HELICOPTER WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. THE STUDENT PLT STATED THAT THE HARD LANDING WHICH FOLLOWED RESULTED IN SPREADING THE SKIDS & SEVERING THE TAILBOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4073G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4073G-2012-11-19), registration cancelled 2012-11-19, S/N 6703, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B-2
- 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
- Serial number: 6703
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-G1A 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Christopher L. Hughes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: SAF, Santa Fe Co. Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 51 total, 51 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAF

## 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 19860425013979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860425013979A), Apr 25, 1986: Bell 47G3B2, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. Landed hard from practice hover and spread skids. Main rotor blades struck tailboom. Student claimed turbulence.

## Other investigations on N4073G (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 SEA90LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA048), Mar 1, 1990: Bell BH-47G3B2 (N4073G), Des Moines, WA, destroyed. Probable cause: PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, CAUSE UNDETERMINED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED AND EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

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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