# NTSB FTW73FPD37: Bell 47D1, N74121, Decatur, TX, May 21, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 21, 1973
- Place: Decatur, TX · DECATUR, TX
- Location: 33.2265° N, 97.5872° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Decatur, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2265&lon=-97.5872&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190426
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73FPD37
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73FPD37

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1376  73/5/21    DECATUR,TEX         BELL 47D1           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 51, 7563
        TIME - 1745                    N74121              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 425 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DECATUR
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DECATUR,TEX                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2700                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  1059                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- ENG QUIT OVR TREES,INCREASED M/R PITCH TO AVOID TREES,LOST M/R RPM.FUEL GAGE 1/4 WITH EMPTY TANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74121](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74121-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N WH-5006, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Decatur

## 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 19730521012869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730521012869A), May 21, 1973: Bell 47D1, Decatur, TX, Substantial damage. Eng quit ovr trees,increased m/r pitch to avoid trees,lost m/r RPM.fuel gage 1/4 with empty tank.

## Other investigations on N74121 (5)

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 CHI75DEV36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75DEV36), Jun 6, 1975: Bell 47D-1 (N74121), Carmi, IL, destroyed
- [NTSB FTW72DPD40](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72DPD40), May 8, 1972: Bell 47D1 (N74121), Glen Rose, TX, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW70FPA07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70FPA07), Mar 4, 1970: Bell 47D1 (N74121), Howe, TX, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN66A0089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66A0089), Jun 19, 1966: Bell 47D1 (N74121), Hyattville, WY, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN66A0080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66A0080), May 6, 1966: Bell 47D1 (N74121), Albuquerque, NM, 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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