- Date
- March 9, 1980
- Place
- Salinas, CA · SALINAS, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N78900Bell 47D1
- Status
- Completed · report June 10, 1980
- Report
- Brief approved by the director
- FAA report
- 19800309005569A
- Case key
- 131561
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
NTSB brief
NTSB’s brief of the accident, as it was printed: the coded facts, with the probable cause and factors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA F S M/N PURPOSE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-1466 80/3/9 SALINAS,CA BELL 47D1 CR- 0 0 1 COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR., TIME - 1100 N78900 PX- 0 0 0 AERIAL APPLICATION AGE 32, 12483 TOTAL DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL OT- 0 0 0 HOURS, 272 IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION SALINAS,CA LOCAL TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND PROBABLE CAUSE(S) PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS SPECIAL DATA TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 313 KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS KIND OF CROP - LETTUCE TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY GLOVES - NOT USED GOGGLES - NOT USED CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED CRASH BAR - INSTALLED TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET - 640 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
Aircraft
- Registration
- N78900
- Reported as
- Bell 47D1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engine
- reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N78900 · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.
NTSB CEN13LA396Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLake Ozark, MOThe improper rebuild and maintenance of the helicopter and inadequate subsequent inspections, which resulted in undetected fuel contamination and a subsequent total loss of engine power during cruise flight.NTSB LAX96FA045Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportShafter, CAthe pilot misjudged the altitude and ground clearance while performing an unwarranted low altitude flight maneuver.NTSB OAK78FVM46Accident · No injuriesClosedCastroville, CA