# NTSB LAX73DVA30: Bell 47G-2, N10194, Richgrove, CA, November 30, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 30, 1972
- Place: Richgrove, CA · RICHGROVE, CA
- Location: 35.7966° N, 119.1069° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Richgrove, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7966&lon=-119.1069&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 2, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169343
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX73DVA30
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73DVA30

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3765  72/11/30   RICHGROVE,CALIF     BELL 47G-2          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1330                    N10194              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 33, 4260 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            1500 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RICHGROVE,CALIF             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       44
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1500                       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  466                               DENSE WITH TREES
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- PWR FAILURE OCCURRED AT CRITICAL ALT AND AIRSPEED. PLT UN EFFECT SAFE AUTOROTATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N10194](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10194-1988-07-27), registration cancelled 1988-07-27, S/N 1056 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-2
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N10194 (5)

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 LAX84LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA131), Jan 4, 1984: Bell 47G-2 (N10194), Watsonville, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX82DA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA051), Jan 23, 1982: Bell 47G-2 (N10194), Watsonville, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK71FVA10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK71FVA10), Jul 20, 1970: Bell 47G-2 (N10194), Exeter, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA70D0072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA70D0072), Aug 31, 1969: Bell 47G-2 (N10194), Wilder, ID, destroyed
- [NTSB UNK64X1119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1119), Mar 31, 1964: Bell 47G2 (N10194), Walla Walla, WA, 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.

---
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.