# NTSB MKC73AKO55: Bell 47J, N6780D, Kansas City, MO, March 2, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 2, 1973
- Place: Kansas City, MO · KANSAS CITY, MO
- Location: 39.0997° N, 94.5786° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kansas City, MO, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0997&lon=-94.5786&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169961
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC73AKO55
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73AKO55

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0352   73/3/2    KANSAS CITY,MO      BELL 47J            CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 1114
        TIME - 1115                    N6780D              PX-  0  0  2  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 370 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KANSAS CITY,MO              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: MAIN ROTOR PULLEYS,BELTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  UNUSUAL NOISE
        REMARKS- ONE ENG COOLING FAN BELT BROKE.ENGINE EQUIPED WITH TWO. NO NEED TO AUTOROTATE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6780D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6780D-2013-09-26), registration cancelled 2013-09-26, S/N 1799, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J
- Registry model: [Bell 47J](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j) (registry code 1181102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, 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 19730302004539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730302004539A), Mar 2, 1973: Bell 47J, Kansas City, MO, Substantial damage. One eng cooling fan belt broke. Engine equiped with two. No need to autorotate.

## Other investigations on N6780D (1)

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 CHI78FEP14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEP14), Feb 5, 1978: Bell 47-J (N6780D), Wilmot, WI, 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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