# NTSB LAX78OA002: Bell 47G3B1, N73288, No.Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), February 6, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: February 6, 1978
- Place: No.Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean) · NO.PACIFIC OCEAN, PO
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 147516
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78OA002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78OA002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0354   78/2/6    NO.PACIFIC OCEAN    BELL 47G3B1         CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 40, 7550
        TIME - 1500                    N73288              PX-  0  1  0  FISH SPOTTING             TOTAL HOURS, 5350 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FISHING BOAT                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: VERTICAL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CREW COORDINATION-POOR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      81
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          135                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT THOUGHT ALL TIE DOWNS WERE LOOSE. GUSTING TO 20K. CRASHED AT 13 DEG N,93 DEG W.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73288](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73288-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N 2912, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (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 19780206001599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780206001599A), Feb 6, 1978: Bell 47B3, No.Pacific Ocea, CA, Substantial damage. Plt thought all tie downs were loose. Gusting to 20K. Crashed at eg n,93 deg w.

## Other investigations on N73288 (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 OAK73FVG48](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73FVG48), Feb 18, 1973: Bell 47G3B1 (N73288), Gridley, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK67X0101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK67X0101), Oct 6, 1966: Bell 47G3B1 (N73288), Manta, Ecuador, 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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