# NTSB LAX78DVM17: Bell 47G5, N7914S, Templeton, CA, April 10, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 10, 1978
- Place: Templeton, CA · TEMPLETON, CA
- Location: 35.5560° N, 120.7182° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Templeton, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5560&lon=-120.7182&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142444
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78DVM17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DVM17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1158  78/4/10    TEMPLETON,CA        BELL 47G5           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 51, 19031
        TIME - 0620                    N7914S              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 857 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TEMPLETON,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: BEARINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 9999                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          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                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  800                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - SECOND 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- THRUST BEARING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7914S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7914S-2017-03-23), registration cancelled 2017-03-23, S/N 7848 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G5
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780410007779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780410007779A), Apr 10, 1978: Bell 47B3, Templeton, CA, Substantial damage. Thrust bearing.

## Other investigations on N7914S (2)

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 LAX98LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA225), Jul 7, 1998: Bell 47G-5 (N7914S), Salinas, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the telephone lines.
- [NTSB LAX79FUM20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUM20), Jul 6, 1979: Bell 47G-5 (N7914S), Escondido, 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.