# NTSB LAX80DVA44: Bell 206B, N59543, Firebaugh, CA, May 31, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 31, 1980
- Place: Firebaugh, CA · FIREBAUGH, CA
- Location: 36.8511° N, 120.4526° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Firebaugh, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8511&lon=-120.4526&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131148
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80DVA44
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVA44

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0479  80/5/31  NR.FIREBAUGH,CA       BELL 206B           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1040                    N59543              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        56, 11054 TOTAL HOURS, 48
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         FIREBAUGH,CA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: CROP                                      IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      85
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  850                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - TOMATOES                                  TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - BELLY                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  150                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - DOWNWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59543](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59543-2005-12-05), registration cancelled 2005-12-05, S/N 1505, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (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 19800531016919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800531016919A), May 31, 1980: Bell 206B, Firebaugh, CA, Substantial damage. Helicopter lost lift during turn around on spray run. Hit ground. Rolled over. Split needles, RPM delay.

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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