# NTSB FTW73DRD13: Bell 47J-2, N73968, Gulf Of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico), January 3, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: January 3, 1973
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico) · GULF OF MEXICO, GM
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 6, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73DRD13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73DRD13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0156   73/1/3    GULF OF MEXICO      BELL 47J-2          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 3747
        TIME - 1700                    N73968              PX-  0  0  2  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 344 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WEST CAMERON BLK 194        CAMERON,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: FREE WHEEL UNIT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELONGATED
           TERRAIN - ROUGH WATER
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- SLIPPAGE OF FREE WHEELING UNIT. FLOAT EQUIPPED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73968](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73968-2013-02-26), registration cancelled 2013-02-26, S/N 2843 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J-2
- Registry model: [Bell 47J-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2) (registry code 1181104) (OpenAirDocs)
- 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 19730103000289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730103000289A), Jan 3, 1973: Bell 47J2, Gulf Of Mexico, LA, Substantial damage. Slippage of free wheeling unit. Float equipped.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.