# NTSB LAX72DVA60: Bell 47G, N153B, Wasco, CA, April 2, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 2, 1972
- Place: Wasco, CA · WASCO, CA
- Location: 35.5938° N, 119.3671° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasco, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5938&lon=-119.3671&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 2, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 165634
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72DVA60
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72DVA60

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1021   72/4/2    WASCO,CALIF         BELL 47G            CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 873
        TIME - 0730                    N153B               PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 545 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WASCO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WASCO,CALIF                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  514                       KIND OF OPERATION - DUSTING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          GLOVES - NOT USED                                        GOGGLES - NOT USED
          CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED                            COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED                                TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  458                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- COLLIDED WITH POLE.DUSTING ROSES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N153B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N153B), registered now, S/N 7, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Wasco

## Other investigations on N153B (2)

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 CEN17LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA264), Jul 6, 2017: Bell 47D1 (N153B), Big Lake, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the metal core assembly within a wooden main rotor blade due to undetected corrosion and fatigue, which caused the wooden blade to separate from the rotor mast.
- [NTSB LAX70D0129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70D0129), Sep 13, 1969: Bell 47D1 (N153B), Shafter, CA, substantial damage

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.

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