# NTSB MKC76FCA39: Bell 47J, N5154B, St Louis, MO, August 7, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 7, 1976
- Place: St Louis, MO · ST LOUIS, MO
- Location: 38.6273° N, 90.1979° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Louis, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6273&lon=-90.1979&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155527
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC76FCA39
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76FCA39

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2370   76/8/7    ST LOUIS,MO         BELL 47J            CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 7050
        TIME - 1805                    N5154B              PX-  0  0  3  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, 1605 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DOWNTOWN HELIPORT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ST LOUIS,MO                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      TAKEOFF: VERTICAL
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- INVOLVED IN SHORT SIGHT-SEEING FLT.FLOAT EQPD.TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AFT OF SPLINED END.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5154B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5154B-2017-02-17), registration cancelled 2017-02-17, S/N 1714, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J
- Registry model: [Bell 47J](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j) (registry code 1181102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Downtown Heliport

## 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 19760807025899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760807025899A), Aug 7, 1976: Bell 47J, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. Involved in short sight-seeing flt. Float eqpd. Tail rotor drive shaft failed aft of splined end.

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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