# Accident 19860808038149A: Bell 47G4A, Shafter, CA, August 8, 1986

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 1986, 08:20 local time
- Place: Shafter, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Tkof-Abort-Copter Vertical
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RPXG
- Location: 35.4896° N, 119.2993° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4896&lon=-119.2993&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1185W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1185W-2018-04-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-4A (registry code 1181031, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-4a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-540 series (registry code 41534, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G4A
- Reported engine: LYC VO540B1B3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,438 total, 1,438 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX86DVA13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86DVA13) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860808038149A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND DURING TAKEOFF AFTER LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. TAILROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 LAX86DVA13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86DVA13), Aug 8, 1986: Bell 47G-4A (N1185W), Shafter, CA, substantial damage

## Other reports on N1185W (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19930213002339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930213002339A), Feb 13, 1993: Bell 47G4A (N1185W), Bakersfield, CA, Substantial damage. Main rotor clutch slipped on vertical takeoff from loading truck. Lost rotor RPM. Made hard autorotation landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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