# Accident 19950617017369A: Bell 47G5, Coalinga, CA, June 17, 1995

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 1995, 22:30 local time
- Place: Coalinga, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: B8NG
- Location: 36.1909° N, 120.3894° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1909&lon=-120.3894&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7923J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7923J-2017-10-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-5 (registry code 1181032, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G5
- Reported engine: LYC VO435B1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,800 total, 300 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX95LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA216) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950617017369A

## Narrative

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

LOST MAIN ROTOR POWER RETURNING TO BASE. NEEDLES SPLIT. ROTORS SLOWED. ENGINE RACED. IMPACTED. CLUTCH OVERHEATED.

## 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 LAX95LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA216), Jun 18, 1995: Bell 47-G5 (N7923J), Coalinga, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: clutch slippage for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the helicopter's low above ground altitude, which limited the pilot's time and ability to recover main rotor rpm.

## Other reports on N7923J (3)

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

- [Accident 19780621016219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780621016219A), Jun 21, 1978: Bell 47B3 (N7923J), Napa, CA, Substantial damage. L hopper empty,r hopper 1/2 to 3/4 full. Mirror installed to monitneven flow.
- [Accident 19740324006939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740324006939A), Mar 24, 1974: Bell 47G5 (N7923J), Stockton, CA, Substantial damage. Op chngd tank install on r side. Didnt chng fuel gage. Indicated too hi reading. Plt flew 6 min only.
- [Accident 19730202000819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730202000819A), Feb 2, 1973: Bell 47G5 (N7923J), Harlingen, TX, Substantial damage. Practice autorotation. R ski dug into soft grnd.

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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