# Accident 20041031028379A: Bell 47D1, San Martin, CA, October 31, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 31, 2004, 09:30 local time
- Place: San Martin, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0817° N, 121.5969° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0817&lon=-121.5969&mi=10
- Aircraft: N903B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N903B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47D1 (registry code 1180802, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6V4 series (registry code 27033, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total, 75 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA022) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041031028379A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 0915 HOURS ON OCTOBER 31, 2004, CFI RANDY SHARP AND OWNER/STUDENT PILOT ROBERT SEUSS DEPARTED RHV (SAN JOSE) FOR 3O7 (HOLLISTER) WITH ONE FUEL STOP PLANNED AT E16 (SOUTH COUNTY AIRPORT) IN A BELL 47-D1 HELICOPTER. AS THE E16 AIRFIELD LANDING AREA CAME INTO SIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT/OWNER INITIATED A POWER REDUCTION AND DESCENT FROM 900 FT TO ENTER A LEFT BASE FOR A LANDING UNDER THE NW CORNER OF THE AIRFIELD. DURING THE RIGHT TURN AND DESCENT THE ENGINE COUGHED AND THEN QUIT OPERATING. THE STUDENT PILOT/OWNER IMMEDIATELY ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND STARTED A TURN TO THE NW TO ENTER INTO THE WIND FOR A FORCED LANDING. DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE GROUND < 500 FT AGL, THERE WAS NO TIME TO INITIATE A RESTART OF THE ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN A FARMERS FIELD, BUT DUE TO THE UNEVEN ROWS OF CROPS AND THE MUDDY FIELD THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO A MOUND AND THE AIRCRAFT TILTED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR ROTATION STOPPAGE AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. NEITHER THE CFI NOR STUDENT PILOT/OWNER SUSTAINED INJURIES. PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENTS: (1) RANDY SHARP NARRATIVE; (2) ROBERT SUESS NARRATIVE; (3) SANTA CLARA COUNTY SHERIFF CASE REPORT 04-305-0119G.

## 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 LAX05LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA022), Oct 31, 2004: Bell 47D1 (N903B), San Martin, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of power for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N903B (1)

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

- [Accident 19880703025389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880703025389A), Jul 3, 1988: Bell 47D1 (N903B), Ruleville, MS, Substantial damage. Reported engine quit on a spray run. Made forced run on landing and nosed over power loss undetermined.

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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