# NTSB LAX83LUJ05: Bell 47G-3B-1, N73991, Tucson, AZ, November 21, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: November 21, 1982, 14:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.279247, -110.730201 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2792&lon=-110.7302&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 21, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72870
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LUJ05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72870/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LUJ05

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - total, pilot in command
  - rotor system,tail rotor blade - overload
  - rotor system,tail rotor blade - separation
  - rotor system - vibration
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor gearbox(90 deg) - overload
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor gearbox(90 deg) - separation

## Analysis

THE SINGLE ENGINE LAND AIRPLANE PILOT WAS ON A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, PRACTICING LANDINGS IN THE HELICOPTER. HE REPORTED THAT DURING A LANDING, HE WAS TOO FAST. WHILE FLARING, THE TAIL ROTOR HIT THE GROUND AND ONE OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES SEPARATED. BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT COULD BE LANDED AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, A SEVERE VIBRATION BEGAN (DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE BLADE) AND THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME. NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.

## 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 47G-3B-1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2897
- Airframe hours: 4119
- Engines: LYCOMING TVO-435-B1A 270 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Rrt Investments, Inc.
- Registered owner: Rrt Investments, Inc.
- Departed: TUCSON, AZ
- Destination: TUCSON, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 600 total, 23 in this make and model, 530 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: 158 °F

## 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 19821121060569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821121060569A), Nov 21, 1982: Bell 47G3B1, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Failed to use sufficient collective to flare from a fast approach. Tail rotor struck the ground.

## 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 LAX73AL009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73AL009), Aug 30, 1972: Bell 47G3B1 (N73991), Tuba City, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal
- [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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