# Accident 20060918018859A: Bell 47G, Vallecito, CA, September 18, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 2006, 08:00 local time
- Place: Vallecito, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0167° N, 120.4667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0167&lon=-120.4667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7762, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7762) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell-K-Copter 47G (registry code 1181065, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-k-copter-47g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6A4200 series (registry code 27027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 500 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX06CA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA296) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060918018859A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT STATES THAT HE WAS ON A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PHOTO FLIGHT. AFTER THE PHOTOGRAPHER HAD TAKEN HIS PICTURES THE PILOT STATES THAT HE ASKED HIS PASSENGER IF HE NEEDED A REST RELIEF. HE STATES HE TOLD THE PASSENGER IT WAS AN HOUR BACK TO THE AIRPORT. THE PASSENGER AGREED THAT A REST RELIEF WOULD BE OK. THE PILOT STATES THAT HE MADE A HIGH RECONNAISSANCE AND A LOW RECONNAISSANCE. DURING THE STEEP APPROACH HE STATES THAT THE WIND SHIFTED AND HE LOST EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT (ETL). THE PILOT THEN APPLIED FORWARD CYCLIC AND RAISED THE COLLECTIVE AND ADDED MORE POWER. IT APPEARS THAT THE PILOT THEN ENTERED A VORTEX RING STATE AND ENTERED INTO SETTING WITH POWER WITH A RESULTING CRASH.

## 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 LAX06CA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA296), Sep 18, 2006: Bell 47G (N7762), Angels Camp, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a hard landing due to the pilot's inadequate compensation for a wind shift encountered on final approach and his failure to maintain an adequate translational lift airspeed.

## Other reports on N7762 (3)

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

- [Accident 20240627008979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240627008979A), Jun 27, 2024: Bell-K-Copter 47G (N7762), Fallon, NV, Destroyed. While hovering over the landing cart pilot stated that he began to mismanage the flight controls. By overcontrolling the helicopter, the pilot lost control…
- [Accident 19781001033089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781001033089A), Oct 1, 1978: Bell 47B3 (N7762), Saginaw, MI, Substantial damage. Conditions suitable for dynamic rollover.
- [Accident 19750408005549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750408005549A), Apr 8, 1975: Bell 47G (N7762), Arlington, TX, Substantial damage. Drying ball fld.

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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