# NTSB LAX79FA081: Bell 47J-2, N930NR, Long Beach, CA, September 14, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 14, 1979
- Place: Long Beach, CA · LONG BEACH, CA
- Location: 33.7670° N, 118.1892° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Long Beach, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7670&lon=-118.1892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133632
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FA081
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA081

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3068  79/9/14    LONG BEACH,CA       BELL 47J-2          CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 29, 4200
        TIME - 1210                    N930NR              PX-  4  0  0  NS CTR PASSG              TOTAL HOURS, 350 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LONG BEACH,CA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: TAIL ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR BLADE(PN 47-642-102)FAILED.FATIGUE CRACK ORIGINATED ON INSIDE DIAM OF GRIP SEC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N930NR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N930NR-2018-03-23), registration cancelled 2018-03-23, S/N 1845, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J-2
- Registry model: [Bell 47J-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2) (registry code 1181104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (registry code 41534, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790914036169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790914036169A), Sep 14, 1979: Bell 47J2, Long Beach, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Helicopter lost tail rotors and assembly. Crashed inverted in bay. Found rotor blade fatigue failure.

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.