# NTSB NYC80FGT12: Bell 47G, N9738Z, Gettysburg, PA, May 7, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 7, 1980
- Place: Gettysburg, PA · GETTYSBURG, PA
- Location: 39.8306° N, 77.2341° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gettysburg, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8306&lon=-77.2341&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131326
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC80FGT12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FGT12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0895   80/5/7    GETTYSBURG,PA       BELL 47G            CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1550                    N9738Z              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 31, 1155 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            190 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OLD GETTYSBURG
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GETTYSBURG,PA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: CYCLIC PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: FLIGHT CONTROL BOOST SYSTEMS, HYDRAULIC
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PRESSURE TOO LOW
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        REMARKS- PLT RPRTD PARTIAL LOSS OF FLT CONT HYD PRES WHEN PWR RTRDD DRG FLARE FOR PRACTICE AUTOROTN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9738Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9738Z), registered now, S/N 57, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1G](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1g) (registry code 1180804) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V 350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-350-series) (registry code 27043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Old Gettysburg

## 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 19800507011689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800507011689A), May 7, 1980: Bell 47G, Gettysburg, PA, Substantial damage. Allowed rotor RPM to delay on practice autorotation landing. Hit ground hard. Aircraft rolled over.

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.
