# NTSB LAX76FUQ32: Bell 47D-1, N917B, Lancaster, CA, April 7, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 7, 1976
- Place: Lancaster, CA · LANCASTER, CA
- Location: 34.6980° N, 118.1367° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lancaster, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6980&lon=-118.1367&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76FUQ32
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76FUQ32

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1139   76/4/7    LANCASTER,CA        BELL 47D-1          CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1335                    N917B               PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 31, 2644 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            332 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FOX FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LANCASTER,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           DUAL STUDENT - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT CROSS WIND 068-112 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           71                                                      220
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           19                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS FROM 4FT HOVER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N917B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N917B), registered now, S/N 606, built 1952 (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
- Airport: Fox Field

## 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 19760407008769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760407008769A), Apr 7, 1976: Bell 47D1, Lancaster, CA, Substantial damage. Practice autorotations from 4FT hover.

## Other investigations on N917B (3)

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 LAX88LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA160), Apr 13, 1988: Bell 47D1 (N917B), Taft, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX87LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA294), Aug 5, 1987: Bell 47D-1 (N917B), Taft, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA65A0044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA65A0044), Feb 23, 1965: Bell 47D1 (N917B), Roseburg, OR, 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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