# NTSB LAX88LA160: Bell 47D1, N917B, Taft, CA, April 13, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 13, 1988, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Taft, CA
- Location: 35.1267° N, 119.4242° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Taft, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1267&lon=-119.4242&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25987
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25987/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA160

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - intentional, pilot in command
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N917B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N917B), registered now, S/N 606, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 606
- Airframe hours: 6567
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6VS-335-A 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Helt Engineering, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 1987, 166 hours before
- Departed: L17

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,298 total, 804 in this make and model, 2,088 as pilot in command, 206 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19880413008899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880413008899A), Apr 13, 1988: Bell 47D1, Taft, CA, Substantial damage. Demonstrated an autorotation to hover. Flared too high. Tail rotor hit and broke off hitting main rotors on landing

## Other investigations on N917B (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 LAX87LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA294), Aug 5, 1987: Bell 47D-1 (N917B), Taft, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX76FUQ32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76FUQ32), Apr 7, 1976: Bell 47D-1 (N917B), Lancaster, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA65A0044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA65A0044), Feb 23, 1965: Bell 47D1 (N917B), Roseburg, 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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