# NTSB FTW69A0073: Bell 47G-4, N1143W, Sabine, TX, April 14, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 14, 1969
- Place: Sabine, TX · SABINE, TX
- Location: 29.7199° N, 93.8716° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sabine, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7199&lon=-93.8716&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189562
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW69A0073
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69A0073

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1136  69/4/14    SABINE,TEX          BELL 47G-4          CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 2177
        TIME - 1010                    N1143W              PX-  0  0  2  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 386 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
                                  PROP/ENGINE VIBRATION
        REMARKS- PLT REPORTED HEARING LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY VIBRATION IN T/R ASSY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1143W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1143W-1970-05-01), registration cancelled 1970-05-01, S/N 3166 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-4
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4) (registry code 1181030) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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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