# NTSB LAX80FVG22: Bell 47D1, N12512, Chico, CA, March 23, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 23, 1980
- Place: Chico, CA · CHICO, CA
- Location: 39.7285° N, 121.8375° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chico, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7285&lon=-121.8375&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 23, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131454
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FVG22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FVG22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1404  80/3/23    CHICO,CA            BELL 47D1           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1352                    N12512              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 26, 2314 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            70 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRASS VALLEY,CA             CHICO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- GUSTS 30KTS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12512](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12512-1998-04-10), registration cancelled 1998-04-10, S/N 6238 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (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 19800323007019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800323007019A), Mar 23, 1980: Bell 47D1, Chico, CA, Substantial damage. Helicopter ran out of fuel enroute. Autorotated to a landing in an orchard.

## Other investigations on N12512 (3)

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 LAX81FVG21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVG21), Feb 28, 1981: Bell 47D1 (N12512), Chico, CA, destroyed
- [NTSB LAX69F0027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX69F0027), Jun 21, 1968: Bell 47D1 (N12512), Crona D Mar, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW67A0105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67A0105), Apr 24, 1967: Bell 47D1 (N12512), Irving, TX, 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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