# NTSB LAX73AL009: Bell 47G3B1, N73991, Tuba City, AZ, August 30, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 30, 1972
- Place: Tuba City, AZ · TUBA CITY, AZ
- Location: 36.1251° N, 111.2467° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tuba City, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1251&lon=-111.2467&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 168390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX73AL009
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73AL009

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3336  72/8/30    TUBA CITY,ARIZ      BELL 47G3B1         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 39,
        TIME - 1330                    N73991              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          PROVO,UT                    WILLCOX,ARIZ                 SAFFORD,ARIZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: TAIL ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FATIGUE,INITIATED FRM INTERNAL BEARING SHOULDER.ACFT BROKE UP PRIOR TO IMPACT.FLT PHASE UNK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73991](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73991-2002-02-19), registration cancelled 2002-02-19, S/N 2897 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Other investigations on N73991 (2)

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 LAX83LUJ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LUJ05), Nov 21, 1982: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N73991), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX67A0083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX67A0083), Mar 8, 1967: Bell 47G3B1 (N73991), Kingman, AZ, destroyed

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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