# NTSB FTW74FQG36: Bell 47G-2, N6708D, Stratford, TX, December 30, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 30, 1973
- Place: Stratford, TX · STRATFORD, TX
- Location: 36.3376° N, 102.0760° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Stratford, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3376&lon=-102.0760&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187489
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW74FQG36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74FQG36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3879  73/12/30 NR.STRATFORD,TEX      BELL 47G-2          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 1150
        TIME - 1605                    N6708D              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 50 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         STRATFORD,TEX                AMARILLO,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE CONTROLS: THROTTLE-POWER LEVER ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FROZEN, MOISTURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED SPEED AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      25
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- THROTTLE CABLE FROZE IN OPEN PSN,TEMP 25 DEG.PLT CUT MAGS & AUTOROTATED.WASNT ROTOR CRAFT RATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6708D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6708D-1994-12-08), registration cancelled 1994-12-08, S/N 2189 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (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 19731230042109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731230042109A), Dec 30, 1973: Bell 47G2, Stratford, TX, Substantial damage. Throttle cable froze in open psn,temp 25 deg. Plt cut mags & autorotated. Wasnt rotor craft rated.

## Other investigations on N6708D (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 LAX91LA405](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA405), Sep 14, 1991: Bell 47G2 (N6708D), Keaau, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S LANDING HARD. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE AIRCRAFT EMITTING A VIBRATION FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE.
- [NTSB ANC70A0023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70A0023), Aug 27, 1969: Bell 47G-2 (N6708D), Prudhoe Bay, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC69A0041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69A0041), Mar 4, 1969: Bell 47G-2 (N6708D), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC69A0003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69A0003), Jul 25, 1968: Bell 47G-2 (N6708D), Minchumina, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK65X0317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0317), Oct 18, 1964: Bell 47G2 (N6708D), King Salmon, AK, 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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