# Accident 20030706018439A: Bell 47G5, Salinas, CA, July 6, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 6, 2003, 10:30 local time
- Place: Salinas, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LSJG
- Location: 36.6669° N, 121.7603° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6669&lon=-121.7603&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7938J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7938J-2016-11-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-5 (registry code 1181032, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-435B (registry code 41519, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-435b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G5
- Reported engine: LYC VO435B1A
- Pilot flight hours: 12,500 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA226) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030706018439A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD MADE SEVERAL PASSES DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG THE ENGINE SHUTTERED VIOLENTLY THEN QUIT. THE PILOT PERFORMED A RUN-ON LANDING. DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE MADE CONTACT WITH THE TAILBOOM OF THE HELICOPTER SEVERING THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX. THE ENGINE OF THE HELICOPTER WAS EXTERNALLY INSPECTED AND THE AFT SECTION OF THE ENGINE CASE WAS RUPTURED. THE ENGINE ON THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER HAD 623 HOURS SINCE LAST OVERHAUL.

## 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 LAX03LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA226), Jul 6, 2003: Bell 47 G5 (N7938J), Salinas, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of a piston connecting rod during an aerial application, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent forced 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.