# NTSB LAX03LA226: Bell 47 G5, N7938J, Salinas, CA, July 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2003, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Salinas, CA - Coordinates: 36.666942, -121.760276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6669&lon=-121.7603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57407 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57407/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA226 ## Probable cause The failure of a piston connecting rod during an aerial application, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - misc rotorcraft,main rotor/tail boom contact - terrain condition - ground - run on landing - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported he had made several passes with the helicopter during an aerial application flight. On the downwind leg of the accident approach, the engine shuttered violently, then quit. The pilot performed a run-on landing. During the landing sequence the main rotor blade made contact with the tail boom of the helicopter, severing the tail rotor gearbox. The engine of the helicopter was externally inspected, and the aft section of the engine case was ruptured. The engine was disassembled, and the number 3 piston connecting rod was discovered to be broken. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2003, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 47 G5, N7938J, made a forced landing following an uncontained engine failure near Salinas, California. During the forced landing, the main rotor flexed downward and severed the tail boom. Gomes Farm Air Service, Inc., was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local aerial application flight departed Salinas, about 1030. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 36 degrees 40 minutes north latitude and 121 degrees 45 minutes west longitude. The pilot reported he had made several passes during an aerial application flight. While on the downwind leg the engine shuttered violently then quit. The pilot performed a run-on landing. During the landing sequence the main rotor blade made contact with the tail boom of the helicopter severing the tail rotor gearbox. The engine of the helicopter was externally inspected and the aft section of the engine case was ruptured. The pilot said that they had experienced the same type of failure 3 years ago. The engine on the accident helicopter had 623 hours since last overhaul. The pilot/owner reported that upon examination of the engine they found brass shavings in the oil and oil filter. The # 3 piston connecting rod had broken in flight which resulted in the total loss of power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7938J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7938J-2016-11-21), registration cancelled 2016-11-21, S/N 25043, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 47 G5 - Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-435B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-435b) (registry code 41519, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 25043 - Airframe hours: 4308 - Engines: Lycoming VO435 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Gomes Farm Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 21, 2003, 23 hours before - Departed: SNS, Salinas, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 11, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 12,120 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030706018439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030706018439A), Jul 6, 2003: Bell 47G5, Salinas, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot reported he had made several passes during an aerial application flight. While on the downwind leg the engine shuttered violently then quit.… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.