# NTSB LAX82FA077: Bell 47G2, N4021A, Brawley, CA, February 19, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1982, 06:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place: Brawley, CA
- Coordinates: 33.020961, -115.449493 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0210&lon=-115.4495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 19, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70020
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70020/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA077

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - crop (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT VISUALLY CHECKED THE GAS TANK BEFORE TAKEOFF AND ESTIMATED THERE WAS ABOUT 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. HE THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AND HOVERED OVER TO THE WATER TANKER AND LOADED 60 GALLONS OF WATER IN THE SPRAY TANK IN ORDER TO CALIBRATE THE NUMBER OF GALLONS PER ACRE THE RIG SPRAYED. AFTER SPRAYING SOME WATER ON THE GROUND HE ASKED THE TANKER OPERATOR TO REFUEL HIS HELICOPTER BUT WAS TOLD THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE SINCE THE PUMP WAS INOPERABLE. THE MECHANIC LOOKED IN THE GAS TANK AND TOLD THE PILOT IT WAS OK TO MOVE TO THE GAS PUMP. THE PILOT PICKED UP THE HELICOPTER AND MOVED TO AN ADJACENT WHEAT FIELD TO SPRAY OUT THE REMAINING WATER AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE FAILED TO PRODUCE POWER. THE HELICOPTER WAS AUTOROTATED FROM AN ESTIMATED 7 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4021A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4021A-1988-10-06), registration cancelled 1988-10-06, S/N 1879 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G2
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1879
- Airframe hours: 4936
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-A1D 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 137
- Operator: Mar Aviation
- Registered owner: Mar Aviation
- Departed: BRAWLEY, CA
- Destination: BRAWLEY, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 23,800 total, 4 in this make and model, 9,999 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 140 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IPL, 12 nm away

## 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 19820219005129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820219005129A), Feb 19, 1982: Bell 47G2, Brawley, CA, Substantial damage. Took off to water test spray system. Engine quit shortly. Made tail low hard landing. Cut tail boom. No fuel .

## Other investigations on N4021A (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 LAX85LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA147), Feb 20, 1985: Bell 47G-2 (N4021A), Stockton, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK64X1865](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1865), May 20, 1964: Bell 47G-2 (N4021A), Enterprise, OR, 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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