# NTSB LAX76FUQ48: Bell 47G-5, N7915S, Lompoc, CA, September 12, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: September 12, 1976
- Place: Lompoc, CA · LOMPOC, CA
- Location: 34.6627° N, 120.4708° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lompoc, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6627&lon=-120.4708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155494
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76FUQ48
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76FUQ48

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2436  76/9/12    LOMPOC,CA           BELL 47G-5          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 29, 4250
        TIME - 0800                    N7915S              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 2000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LOMPOC
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LOMPOC,CA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: RUNNING
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: MAGNETOS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - TOMATOES                                  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                             ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  88
        REMARKS- ROTOR RPM DECAYED WHEN PILOT STRETCHED GP TO AVOID FENCE. BREAKER PTS SPRING BKN ON L MAG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7915S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7915S-1984-05-15), registration cancelled 1984-05-15, S/N 7849 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-5
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Lompoc

## 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 19760912027649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760912027649A), Sep 12, 1976: Bell 47G5, Lompoc, CA, Substantial damage. Rotor RPM decayed when pilot stretched gp to avoid fence. Breaker pts spring bkn on l mag.

## Other investigations on N7915S (1)

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 LAX73FUQ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73FUQ05), Aug 16, 1972: Bell 47G-5 (N7915S), Oxnard, CA, destroyed

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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