# Accident 20110814017399A: Bell 47G-3B-2, Los Banos, CA, August 14, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 14, 2011, 12:35 local time
- Place: Los Banos, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: U4LG
- Location: 37.0000° N, 120.8667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0000&lon=-120.8667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N475AL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N475AL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-2 (registry code 1181029, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 series (registry code 03014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B-2
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,600 total, 115 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA379) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110814017399A

## Narrative

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

TAKEOFF WAS FROM THE TOP OF A LOADING TRUCK.  THE HELO ACCELERATED THROUGH EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT WHEN THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN INTO THE WIND.  SUDDENLY THE RPM "DROPPED LIKE A ROCK" THE PILOT VERRIFIED HE HAD FULL "THROTTLE" AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE.  HE WAS ABLE TO "MILK IT" TO 5-7' ABOVE YOUNG ALMOND ORCHARD (TREES WERE APPROX. 8' TALL) WHEN HE LOST POWER AGAIN.  THE HELO IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD WITH THE LEFT SKID LOW.

## 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 WPR11LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA379), Aug 14, 2011: Bell 47G-3B-2 (N475AL), Los Banos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight, and contamination of both the engine compressor section and the main rotor blades, which resulted in reduced performance of the engine and rotor system.

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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