# NTSB LAX76FUM21: Bensen B8M, N21CF, Holtville, CA, March 7, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 7, 1976
- Place: Holtville, CA · HOLTVILLE, CA
- Location: 32.8138° N, 115.3783° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Holtville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8138&lon=-115.3783&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153167
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76FUM21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76FUM21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0577   76/3/7  NR.HOLTVILLE,CA       BENSEN B8M          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 49, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1400                    N21CF               PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HOLTVILLE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         HOLTVILLE,CA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: MAIN ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        REMARKS- WOODEN PROPELLER AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE CAME IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. BLADES FOLDED UP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21CF-1976-04-29), registration cancelled 1976-04-29, S/N 382204460 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BENSEN B8M
- Registry model: [Farrington BENSEN B-8M](https://openairdocs.org/model/farrington-bensen-b-8m) (registry code 1301055) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Holtville

## 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 19760307006949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760307006949A), Mar 7, 1976: Amtr 1301055, Holtville, CA, Destroyed. Wooden propeller and a main rotor blade came in contact with each other. Blades folded up.

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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