# NTSB LAX75FUA04: Bell 47D-1, N5226, Seal Beach, CA, July 28, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 28, 1974
- Place: Seal Beach, CA · SEAL BEACH, CA
- Location: 33.7544° N, 118.0713° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Seal Beach, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7544&lon=-118.0713&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132515
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX75FUA04
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75FUA04

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2132  74/7/28    SEAL BEACH,CALIF    BELL 47D-1          CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 42, 3265
        TIME - 0900                    N5226               PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      TOTAL HOURS, 15 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA ANA,CALIF             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        REMARKS- M/R BLADES FLEXED INTO TAIL BOOM.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5226](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5226-2014-10-27), registration cancelled 2014-10-27, S/N 37, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D-1
- 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: Substantial damage

## 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 19740728023759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740728023759A), Jul 28, 1974: Bell 47D1, Seal Beach, CA, Substantial damage. M/r blades flexed into tail boom.

## Other investigations on N5226 (4)

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 FTW02LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA044), Dec 1, 2001: Bell 47G (N5226), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the flight instructor's selection of an unsuitable area for practicing a full touchdown autorotation, which resulted in a nose over. A contributing factor was the soft ground.
- [NTSB FTW96LA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA192), Apr 26, 1996: Bell 47D1 (N5226), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student's inadvertent dynamic rollover, and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.
- [NTSB FTW85LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA074), Dec 7, 1984: Bell 47D1 (N5226), Ardmore, OK, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW76FPA15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FPA15), Dec 7, 1975: Bell 47D-1 (N5226), Irving, TX, 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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