# NTSB LAX76FVA15: Bell 47D-1, N68627, Palos Verdes, CA, October 24, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 24, 1975
- Place: Palos Verdes, CA · PALOS VERDES, CA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151304
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76FVA15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76FVA15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2978  75/10/24 NR.PALOS VERDES,CA    BELL 47D-1          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0945                    N68627              PX-  0  0  1  MAPPING/PHOTO             AGE 32, 1257 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1075 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN PEDRO,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        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                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           60                                                       25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PILOT RAN OUT OF FUEL. DITCHED IN CHANNEL. ACFT SANK. GUSTING TO 25K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68627](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68627-1975-12-01), registration cancelled 1975-12-01, S/N 399 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D-1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19751024034329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19751024034329A), Oct 24, 1975: Bell 47D1, Palos Verdes, CA, Destroyed. Pilot ran out of fuel. Ditched in channel. Acft sank. Gusting to 25K.

## Other investigations on N68627 (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 UNK65X0548](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0548), Nov 3, 1964: Bell 47D1 (N68627), San Frnando, CA, 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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