# Accident 20240223000789A: Bell 47G-3B-1, Garey, CA, February 23, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 2024, 07:40 local time
- Place: Garey, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: EHYG
- Location: 34.8950° N, 120.3222° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8950&lon=-120.3222&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2618W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2618W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 47G-3B-1 (registry code 1181028, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 series (registry code 03014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-3B-1
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 15,060 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA093) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240223000789A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION OVER A BROCCOLI FIELD IN GAREY CALIFORNIA WHEN HE INITIATED A CLIMB TO 80 FEET (AGL) TO OVERFLY POWER LINES.AS THE PILOT INCREASED POWER FOR THE CLIMB HE OBSERVED ENGINE OUT & LOW ROTOR AUDIO WARNINGS AND LOST ENGINE RPM.

AFTER CROSSING THE POWER LINES, THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION, DURING AUTOROTATION THE HELICOPTER INITIATED AN UNCOMMAND ROLL TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL RIGHT CYCLIC AND RIGHT PEDAL BUT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE ROLL AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN LEFT ATTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED ON IMPACT AND LANDED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.

## 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 WPR24LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA093), Feb 23, 2024: Bell 47G-3B-1 (N2618W), Garey, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly check the torque paint on a fuel control unit B-nut, which resulted in the loosening of the B-nut, a loss of engine power at a low altitude, and a…

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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