# NTSB NYC80FNA10: Bell 47G-3B, N7943J, Plymouth, MA, March 20, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 20, 1980
- Place: Plymouth, MA · PLYMOUTH, MA
- Location: 41.9583° N, 70.6638° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Plymouth, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9583&lon=-70.6638&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131989
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC80FNA10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FNA10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0826  80/3/20  NR.PLYMOUTH,MA        BELL 47G-3B         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0930                    N7943J              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 64, 19130 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 14005 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PLYMOUTH MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         PLYMOUTH,MA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           ROTORCRAFT - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISCONNECTED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES
        REMARKS- JACKSHAFT,PN 47-723-045-1,BELLCRANK PN 47-727-173-3,BCM DISCNCTD.AN310-4 BOLT,NUT,WSHR NOT FOUND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7943J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7943J-1980-08-20), registration cancelled 1980-08-20, S/N 6805, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-2) (registry code 1181029) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Plymouth Muni

## 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 19800320006369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800320006369A), Mar 20, 1980: Bell 47G3B2, Plymouth, MA, Substantial damage. Lost cyclic control returning to base. Made hard landing. Found collective torque tube had separated.

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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