# NTSB FTW73AF044: Bell 206B, N14831, Morgan City, LA, February 19, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 19, 1973
- Place: Morgan City, LA · MORGAN CITY, LA
- Location: 29.7103° N, 91.1915° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morgan City, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7103&lon=-91.1915&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170104
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73AF044
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF044

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0135  73/2/19    MORGAN CITY,LA      BELL 206B           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 4962
        TIME - 0915                    N14831              PX-  4  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1140 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MARSH IS BLK 57             MORGAN CITY,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      TAKEOFF: VERTICAL
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - MISCELLANEOUS UNITS AND ASSEMBLIES: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        REMARKS- PYLON SUPPORT LINK FAILED IN FATIGUE,CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE OF MAIN ROTOR/TRANSMISSION ASSY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14831](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14831-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 868 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19730219003299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730219003299A), Feb 19, 1973: Bell 206B1, Morgan City, LA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Pylon support link failed in fatigue,causing complete failure of main rotor/transmission assy.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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