# NTSB OAK65A0070: Bell 47J2, N8438E, Willits, CA, June 6, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 6, 1965
- Place: Willits, CA · WILLITS, CA
- Location: 39.4050° N, 123.3489° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Willits, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4050&lon=-123.3489&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1965
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 178218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK65A0070
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK65A0070

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0561   65/6/6  NR.WILLITS CALIF      BELL 47J2           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 4900
        TIME - 0645                    N8438E              PX-  0  0  0  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED      TOTAL HOURS, 25 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: AIRPORT HAZARD                            TAXI: AERIAL TAXI, OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR STRUCK MARKER STAKE DURING HOVER TAXI-MARKER STAKE NOT FOUND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8438E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8438E-1971-03-31), registration cancelled 1971-03-31, S/N 1816 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47J2
- Registry model: [Bell 47J-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47j-2) (registry code 1181104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N8438E (1)

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 ANC69A0023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69A0023), Oct 15, 1968: Bell 47J-2 (N8438E), Prudhoe Bay, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal

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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