# NTSB LAX76DVA56: Bell 47G3B1, N73959, Coalinga, CA, April 29, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 29, 1976
- Place: Coalinga, CA · COALINGA, CA
- Location: 36.1402° N, 120.3520° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Coalinga, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1402&lon=-120.3520&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153454
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76DVA56
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76DVA56

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1568  76/4/29  NR.COALINGA,CA        BELL 47G3B1         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1155                    N73959              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 31, 4009 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            809 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         COALINGA,CA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: FREE WHEEL UNIT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  118                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - PASTURE                                   TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  800                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UPWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - SECOND 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- ENG OVR SPEED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73959](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73959-2013-05-07), registration cancelled 2013-05-07, S/N 2830, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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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