# NTSB LAX78FUM34: Bell 206B, N16733, Holtville, CA, August 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 18, 1978
- Place: Holtville, CA · HOLTVILLE, CA
- Location: 32.8138° N, 115.3783° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Holtville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8138&lon=-115.3783&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139730
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FUM34
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUM34

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2853  78/8/18    HOLTVILLE,CA        BELL 206B           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 55, 23500
        TIME - 0700                    N16733              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 1790 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOLTVILLE,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL CONTROL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OBSTRUCTED
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 9999                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - BELLY                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  0                   SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - DOWNWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- FOREIGN MATTER ON PG ORIFICE & PT LEVER FACE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16733](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16733-2013-06-18), registration cancelled 2013-06-18, S/N 2138, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- 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 19780818030239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780818030239A), Aug 18, 1978: Bell 206B, Holtville, CA, Substantial damage. Foreign matter on pg orifice & pt lever face.

## Other investigations on N16733 (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 DEN89FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA101), Apr 5, 1989: Bell 206B-III (N16733), Park City, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: AN ENCOUNTER WITH STRONG DOWN-SLOPE WINDS AND GUSTS DURING A CRITIACAL PHASE OF FLIGHT WHICH CAUSED POWER REQUIRED TO EXCEED POWER AVAILABLE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNHILL…
- [NTSB DEN89LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA059), Jan 8, 1989: Bell 206B III (N16733), Park City, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING SITE BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN TAIL ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE TERRAIN AND SHEARING OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT.

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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