# NTSB MKC81DCQ43: Bell 47G-2, N7735, Sublette, KS, June 20, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 20, 1981
- 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: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125711
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC81DCQ43
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81DCQ43

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1527  81/6/20    SUBLETTE,KS         BELL 47G-2          CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 25, 624
        TIME - 0815                    N7735               PX-  0  0  0  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 38 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SUBLETTE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SUBLETTE,KS                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      90
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- D/A APRX 5500FT.LNDD ON TERRACE IN WHEAT FLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7735](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7735-2013-02-26), registration cancelled 2013-02-26, S/N K8117 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2
- Registry model: [Bell - K Copter 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-k-copter-47d1) (registry code 1180843) (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
- Airport: Sublette

## 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 19810620035369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810620035369A), Jun 20, 1981: Bell 47D1, Sublette, KS, Substantial damage. Allowed rotor RPM decay during test spray run with water to calibrate spray nozzles. Rolled on ground contact.

## Other investigations on N7735 (4)

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 MKC88FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88FA054), Feb 21, 1988: Bell 47D1 (N7735), Nixa, MO, destroyed, 1 fatal
- [NTSB MKC75FCQ52](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC75FCQ52), Jun 12, 1975: Bell 47D1 (N7735), Holcomb, KS, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW72FPA09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72FPA09), Oct 24, 1971: Bell 47D1 (N7735), Carrollton, TX, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW69F0497](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0497), May 13, 1969: Bell 47D1 (N7735), Powell, TX, 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.