# NTSB MKC76DCQ57: Bell 47D-1, N908B, Sublette, KS, June 4, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 4, 1976
- Place: Sublette, KS · SUBLETTE, KS
- Location: 37.4822° N, 100.8466° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sublette, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4822&lon=-100.8466&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 2, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154167
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC76DCQ57
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76DCQ57

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1060   76/6/4    SUBLETTE,KS         BELL 47D-1          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 24, 1775
        TIME - 1730                    N908B               PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 635 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SUBLETTE,KS                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: CROP                                      IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  580                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          GLOVES - USED                                            GOGGLES - NOT USED
          CRASH HELMET - NOT AVAILABLE                             COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED                                TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES
          TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING                                    ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  3000
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- WHEAT ENTANGLED IN THE SKIDS-PULLED ACFT INTO GROUND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N908B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N908B), registered now, S/N 479, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D-1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19760604014829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760604014829A), Jun 4, 1976: Bell 47D1, Sublette, KS, Substantial damage. Wheat entangled in the skids-pulled acft into ground.

## Other investigations on N908B (7)

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 ATL97LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA121), Aug 11, 1997: Bell 47-D1 (N908B), Holcomb, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to adequately see and avoid all obstructions while doing aerial application work.
- [NTSB ATL94LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA172), Sep 13, 1994: Bell 47D1 Wasp (N908B), Hazel Green, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: UNDETERMINED.
- [NTSB ATL89DLT03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89DLT03), May 12, 1989: Bell 47 (N908B), Shelbyville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE IN THE ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO PERFORM AN AUTOROTATION.
- [NTSB ATL87LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA204), Jul 8, 1987: Bell 47D1 (N908B), Huntsville, AL, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA79FLA48](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FLA48), Sep 1, 1979: Bell 47D1 (N908B), Hahira, GA, destroyed
- [NTSB MIA77DKG41](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77DKG41), Jul 2, 1977: Bell 47-D1 (N908B), Berlin, GA, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA72FLG08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72FLG08), Aug 14, 1971: Bell 47D-1 (N908B), Cheraw, SC, 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.

---
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.