# NTSB LAX77FUM12: EL Tomcat 47G, N73872, San Diego, CA, January 13, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 13, 1977
- Place: San Diego, CA · SAN DIEGO, CA
- Location: 32.7153° N, 117.1573° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Diego, CA, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7153&lon=-117.1573&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156712
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77FUM12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FUM12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0040  77/1/13    SAN DIEGO,CA        EL TOMCAT 47G       CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE UNK/NR,
        TIME - 0750                    N73872              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        11200 TOTAL HOURS, 5212
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BROWN FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN DIEGO,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          LANDING: ROLL-ON/RUN-ON
        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)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED                                TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT                                 ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  520
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM                          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- SPRAYING CELERY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73872](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73872-2013-07-08), registration cancelled 2013-07-08, S/N CCI-263, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EL TOMCAT 47G
- Registry model: [Bell 47G](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g) (registry code 1181002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6VS-335 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6vs-335-series) (registry code 27040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Brown 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 19770113000979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770113000979A), Jan 13, 1977: Bell 47G, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. Spraying celery.

## Other investigations on N73872 (5)

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 LAX79DUM13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DUM13), Apr 24, 1979: Bell 47G-2A (N73872), Fallbrook, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI74FEM62](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74FEM62), May 29, 1974: EL Tomcat I (N73872), Belding, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI71FBJ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBJ05), Jul 13, 1970: Bell 47G (N73872), Edmore, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI69F0092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69F0092), Jul 14, 1968: Bell 47G (N73872), Lakeview, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC66A0070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66A0070), Jan 7, 1966: Bell Cntntl (N73872), Philadelphia, PA, 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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