# NTSB NYC79FNE18: Bell 47D-1, N4250A, Ridgefield, CT, June 24, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 24, 1979
- Place: Ridgefield, CT · RIDGEFIELD, CT
- Location: 41.2697° N, 73.4926° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ridgefield, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2697&lon=-73.4926&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135364
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC79FNE18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FNE18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1874  79/6/24    RIDGEFIELD,CT       BELL 47D-1          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 42, 2539
        TIME - 0750                    N4250A              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 160 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DANBURY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MAHOPAC,NY                  RIDGEFIELD,CT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  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 INDUCTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      57
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- AUTOROTATIVE LNDG INTO A PVT PARKING LOT.FLT OUER DENSELY WOODED AREA W FEW LNDG AREAS AVAILABLE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4250A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4250A), registered now, S/N 421 (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
- Airport: Danbury

## 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 19790624019219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790624019219A), Jun 24, 1979: Bell 47D1, Ridgefield, CT, Substantial damage. Engine stopped enroute. Pilot made hard autorotate landing. Carb icing a factor. Failed to maintain rotor RPM.

## Other investigations on N4250A (1)

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 NYC70F0049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC70F0049), Jun 30, 1969: Bell 47D1 (N4250A), Feeding Hlls, MA, destroyed

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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