# NTSB NYC78FA055: Bell 47G-3B, N602PD, Wantagh, NY, May 17, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 17, 1978
- Place: Wantagh, NY · WANTAGH, NY
- Location: 40.6679° N, 73.5105° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wantagh, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6679&lon=-73.5105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141588
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA055
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA055

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4216  78/5/17    WANTAGH,NY          BELL 47G-3B         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1804                    N602PD              PX-  0  0  0  POLICE PATROL             AGE 53, 2392 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            300 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GRUMMAN AIRPORT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BETHPAGE,NY                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      54
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- HELICOPTER OBSERVED FLYING AT 200 TO 300FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N602PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N602PD-1980-09-22), registration cancelled 1980-09-22, S/N 3186 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b) (registry code 1181026) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Grumman Airport

## 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 19780517045499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780517045499A), May 17, 1978: Bell 47B, NY, No 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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