# Accident 20100122026059A: Bell 47G-4A, Shafter, CA, January 22, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 22, 2010, 09:09 local time
- Place: Shafter, CA
- Airport: Shafter-Minter Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: PWWG
- Location: 35.4733° N, 119.2428° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4733&lon=-119.2428&mi=10
- Aircraft: N28938, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28938-2018-03-02) (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 47G-4A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA117) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100122026059A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED HE WAS NEARING HIS FIRST AERIAL APPLICATION PASS TRAVELING IN A NORTHWEST DIRECTION, TURNING AND DECENDING. APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 80 FEET AND AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 70 MPH.HE HEARD A 'POP' AND EXPERIENCED VIBRATION. HE DECIDED TO LAND CLOSE TO A ROAD. HE FLARED BUT HAD "NOTHING LEFT" IN COLLECTIVE CONTROL AND EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING.  THE LANDING WAS IN A MUDDY FIELD APPROXIMATELY THIRTY FEET FROM THE ROAD. THE LANDING WAS AT NEAR ZERO AIRSPEED AS THERE WAS NEGLIGIBLE FORWARD MOMENTUM.  THE POP HEARD AND THE VIBRATION FELT BY THE PILOT ARE CONSISTANT WITH THE LOSS OF A MAIN ROTOR COUNTER-WEIGHT. THE COUNTER-WEIGHT HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED. THE REMAINING ROD END SHOWS EVIDENCE OF AN OLD CRACK WITH RUST VISIBLE AT THE POINT OF FAILURE.   THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE CONSISTANT WITH A HARD LANDING: THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM, ONE RECEIVING SOME MARKING AND BRUSING. THE OTHER BLADE SHEARED OFF THE TAIL BOOM AND DE-LAMINATED AND SHREDDED, SENDING PARTS AND PIECES FOR A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY FORTY YARDS, IN ALL DIRECTIONS.  ALL FOUR LOWER MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN OFF ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO MOVE FORWARD WHERE IT MADE CONTACT WITH THE CONTROL SERVOS AND BROKE THE COLLECTIVE LINKAGE, BROKE THE FRAME IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE RIGHT SIDE, BOTH MAGNETOS WERE BROKEN OFF,  AND BOTH EXHAUST PIPES WERE BROKEN OR BENT.

## 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 WPR10LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA117), Jan 22, 2010: Bell 47G-4A (N28938), Shafter, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of a main rotor blade counterweight due to corrosion. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the operator to perform the initial and recurrent inspections required by a Service…

## Other reports on N28938 (1)

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

- [Accident 19870202002229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870202002229A), Feb 2, 1987: Bell 47G4A (N28938), Stockton, CA, Substantial damage. The engine failed from fuel starvation and the helicopter made a hard landing. Fuel disconnect fitting fatigued.

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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