# NTSB OAK73FVG48: Bell 47G3B1, N73288, Gridley, CA, February 18, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 18, 1973
- Place: Gridley, CA · GRIDLEY, CA
- Location: 39.3629° N, 121.6975° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gridley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3629&lon=-121.6975&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169880
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK73FVG48
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73FVG48

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0431  73/2/18    GRIDLEY,CALIF       BELL 47G3B1         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 22, 967
        TIME - 1300                    N73288              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 139 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT -  AG STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRIDLEY,CALIF               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: LINES AND FITTINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PREVIOUS DAMAGE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  649                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - FRUIT ORCHARDS                            TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  80                  SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - DOWNWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LNDD IN PEACH ORCHARD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73288](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73288-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N 2912, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-3B-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-3b-1) (registry code 1181028) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TVO-435-GIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tvo-435-gia) (registry code 41526, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport:  Ag Strip

## 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 19730218004079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730218004079A), Feb 18, 1973: Bell 47G3B1, Gridley, CA, Substantial damage. Lndd in peach orchard.

## Other investigations on N73288 (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 LAX78OA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78OA002), Feb 6, 1978: Bell 47G3B1 (N73288), No.Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK67X0101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK67X0101), Oct 6, 1966: Bell 47G3B1 (N73288), Manta, Ecuador, 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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