# NTSB LAX74AL057: Bell 47D1, N74084, Westminster, CA, January 28, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 28, 1974
- Place: Westminster, CA · WESTMINSTER, CA
- Location: 33.7523° N, 117.9940° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westminster, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7523&lon=-117.9940&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 17, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186890
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL057
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL057

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0401  74/1/28    WESTMINSTER,CALIF   BELL 47D1           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 36104
        TIME - 1039                    N74084              PX-  1  0  0  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA ANA,CALIF             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - MISCELLANEOUS UNITS AND ASSEMBLIES: TAIL BOOMS/PYLONS/CONES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LOW ROTOR RPM,BLADE FLAPPING.M/R HIT TAIL BOOM INFLT.TAIL BOOM SEPARATED.PLT TIME FM OPERATOR EST.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74084](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74084), registered now, S/N NH963, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6A&6V335 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a-6v335-series) (registry code 27020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- 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 19740128005819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740128005819A), Jan 28, 1974: Bell 47D1, Westminster, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Low rotor RPM,blade flapping.m/r hit tail boom inflt. Tail boom separated. Plt time fm operator EST.

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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