# NTSB LAX72FVA37: Bell 47G5, N8557F, Mcfarland, CA, December 17, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 17, 1971
- Place: Mcfarland, CA · MCFARLAND, CA
- Location: 35.6675° N, 119.2322° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of McFarland, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6675&lon=-119.2322&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 17, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164500
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72FVA37
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72FVA37

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3352  71/12/17   MCFARLAND,CALIF     BELL 47G5           CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0530                    N8557F              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 48, 11500 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 1200 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MCFARLAND,CALIF             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT ENCTRD GND FOG,LGTS RFLCTD OFF FOG DISORIENTED PLT,HEL CRASHED INTO TREES.FLT FOR FROST CTL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8557F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8557F-2013-05-14), registration cancelled 2013-05-14, S/N 7803, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G5
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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