# NTSB MKC73DCA09: Bell 47G-5, N7042J, Chesterfield, MO, December 13, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: December 13, 1972
- Place: Chesterfield, MO · CHESTERFIELD, MO
- Location: 38.6631° N, 90.5771° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chesterfield, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6631&lon=-90.5771&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 3, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163252
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC73DCA09
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73DCA09

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3858  72/12/13   CHESTERFIELD,MO     BELL 47G-5          CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1220                    N7042J              PX-  0  0  1  POLICE PATROL             AGE 29, 1401 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1250 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SPIRIT ST.LOUIS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      24
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           30                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ALT TOO LOW TO REACH SHORE WHEN PWR WAS LOST. ACFT SANK IN MO RVR,WAS NOT RCVRD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7042J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7042J-1973-05-01), registration cancelled 1973-05-01, S/N 25018, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-5
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Spirit St.Louis

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.