# NTSB LAX78FVA25: Bell 47G1, N9421H, Buttonwillow, CA, February 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 18, 1978
- Place: Buttonwillow, CA · BUTTONWILLOW, CA
- Location: 35.4092° N, 119.4407° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Buttonwillow, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4092&lon=-119.4407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143705
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FVA25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FVA25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0214  78/2/18    BUTTONWILLOW,CA     BELL 47G1           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1400                    N9421H              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 33, 5500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            60 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BUTTONWILLOW,CA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2500                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - 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 -  200
        REMARKS- YOKE TAIL ROTOR HUB PN 47-641-057-9
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9421H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9421H), registered now, S/N 178, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (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 19780218002349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780218002349A), Feb 18, 1978: Bell 47D1, Buttonwillow,Ca, CA, Substantial damage. Yoke tail rotor hub pn 47-641-057-9

## Other investigations on N9421H (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 UNK64X1689](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1689), May 9, 1964: Bell 47D-1 (N9421H), Fullerton, 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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