# NTSB SEA66A0012: Bell 47G3B1, N73920, Libby, MT, August 16, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 16, 1965
- Place: Libby, MT · LIBBY, MT
- Location: 48.3864° N, 115.5564° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Libby, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3864&lon=-115.5564&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 15, 1965
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 177254
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA66A0012
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA66A0012

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0590  65/8/16    LIBBY MONT          BELL 47G3B1         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 3950
        TIME - 1930                    N73920              PX-  0  0  2  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 2172 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LIBBY AIRPORT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: POWER-ON DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        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                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     TAIL WIND 158-202 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           80                                                      225
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           8                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PASSENGERS WERE SMALL CHILDREN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73920](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73920-1966-06-09), registration cancelled 1966-06-09, S/N 2808, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Libby Airport

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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