# NTSB LAX80FUK01: Bell 47G-5A, N7990J, Yuma, AZ, September 11, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 11, 1980
- Place: Yuma, AZ · YUMA, AZ
- Location: 32.7253° N, 114.6244° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Yuma, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7253&lon=-114.6244&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127997
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FUK01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FUK01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3466  80/9/11    YUMA,AZ             BELL 47G-5A         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 3016
        TIME - 0155                    N7990J              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 414 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          YUMA,AZ                          LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: PULLUP FROM SWATH RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: MAIN ROTOR GEAR BOX
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  340                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          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                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- PINION GEAR BEARING FAILED IN MAIN ROTOR TRANSMISSION.1061HRS SINCE OVRHAUL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7990J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7990J-2014-11-19), registration cancelled 2014-11-19, S/N 25094, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G-5A
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-5a) (registry code 1181034) (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: 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 19800911042459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800911042459A), Sep 11, 1980: Bell 47G5A, Yuma, AZ, Destroyed. Lost rotor RPM on night spray run. Struck tree on emergency landing. Found rotor transmission bearing 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.

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