# NTSB LAX79FUM20: Bell 47G-5, N7914S, Escondido, CA, July 6, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 6, 1979
- Place: Escondido, CA · ESCONDIDO, CA
- Location: 33.1192° N, 117.0864° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Escondido, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1192&lon=-117.0864&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 6, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135303
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FUM20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUM20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2010   79/7/6  NR.ESCONDIDO,CA       BELL 47G-5          CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 2198
        TIME - 0745                    N7914S              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 1350 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VISTA,CA                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: POWER-ON DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  50
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       50
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - FERRY
          KIND OF CROP - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
        REMARKS- COLLIDED W AVOCADO TREE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7914S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7914S-2017-03-23), registration cancelled 2017-03-23, S/N 7848 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-5
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5) (registry code 1181032) (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 19790706019289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790706019289A), Jul 6, 1979: Bell 47G5, Escondido, CA, Substantial damage. Ag pilot enroute between ag strips flew into area of low ceilings and fog. Hit trees. Helicopter or pilot not rated

## Other investigations on N7914S (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 LAX98LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA225), Jul 7, 1998: Bell 47G-5 (N7914S), Salinas, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the telephone lines.
- [NTSB LAX78DVM17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DVM17), Apr 10, 1978: Bell 47G5 (N7914S), Templeton, 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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