# NTSB SEA78DTA18: Bell 47G3B1, N90769, Billings, MT, August 20, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 20, 1978
- Place: Billings, MT · BILLINGS, MT
- Location: 45.7833° N, 108.5007° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Billings, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7833&lon=-108.5007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78DTA18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78DTA18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2218  78/8/20    BILLINGS,MT         BELL 47G3B1         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1500                    N90769              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  46, 20000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            2300 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BLAINE,MT                   BILLINGS,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
           TERRAIN - HIDDEN OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- T/R HIT FENCE POST IN TALL GRASS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90769](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90769-2013-07-09), registration cancelled 2013-07-09, S/N 2901, built 1963 (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)
- 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

## 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 19780820023649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780820023649A), Aug 20, 1978: Bell 47G3B1, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. T/r hit fence post in tall grass.

## Other investigations on N90769 (2)

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 DEN84LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA079), Jan 31, 1984: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N90769), Ogden, UT, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN76FTE18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76FTE18), Aug 24, 1975: Bell 47G3B1 (N90769), Denver, CO, substantial 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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