# NTSB FTW66A0105: Bell Tomcat, N9168R, Broken Bow, OK, May 16, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 16, 1966
- Place: Broken Bow, OK · BROKEN BOW, OK
- Location: 34.0289° N, 94.7414° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Broken Bow, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0289&lon=-94.7414&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1966
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 172398
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW66A0105
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66A0105

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0297  66/5/16    BROKEN BOW OKLA     BELL TOMCAT         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 43, 8681
        TIME - 1850                    N9168R              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 3167 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH TEMPERATURE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      82
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          170                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 3000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING FORESTS
          KIND OF CROP - FOREST-TREES                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -HILLY
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  510
        REMARKS- TOOK OFF FROM CLEARING IN FOREST.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9168R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9168R-2015-05-21), registration cancelled 2015-05-21, S/N 4 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL TOMCAT
- Registry model: [Bell-Continental Copters 47G-ELTOMCAT MKII](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-continental-copters-47g-eltomcat-mkii) (registry code 1181062) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6A&6V335 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a-6v335-series) (registry code 27020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N9168R (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 UNK64X3703](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3703), Aug 31, 1964: Bell 47G (N9168R), Stuttgart, AR, substantial damage

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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