# NTSB LAX78FUQ25: Bell 47G, N4702S, Sylmar, CA, May 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 4, 1978
- Place: Sylmar, CA · SYLMAR, CA
- Location: 34.3078° N, 118.4492° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sylmar, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3078&lon=-118.4492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 23, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142263
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FUQ25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUQ25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0878   78/5/4  NR.SYLMAR,CA          BELL 47G            CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1230                    N4702S              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 35, 788 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            518 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AGUA DULCE,CA               BURBANK,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4702S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4702S), registered now, S/N B-101R (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (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 19780504011049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780504011049A), May 4, 1978: Bell 47D1, Sylmar, CA, Destroyed

## Other investigations on N4702S (4)

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 MIA02LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA154), Aug 20, 2002: Bell 47-D1 (N4702S), Union, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance.
- [NTSB MIA98LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA230), Aug 29, 1998: Bell 47D1 (N4702S), Dawson, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing resulting in debris being blown up during landing resulting in damage to the tail rotor and loss of control.
- [NTSB MIA96LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA028), Nov 15, 1995: Bell 47-D1 (N4702S), Jasper, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.…
- [NTSB LAX71FUQ33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71FUQ33), Oct 20, 1970: Bell 47G (N4702S), Van Nuys, 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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