# NTSB OAK75AP025: Bell 47G3B1, N409RG, Auburn, CA, December 21, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 21, 1974
- Place: Auburn, CA · AUBURN, CA
- Location: 38.8951° N, 121.0767° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Auburn, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8951&lon=-121.0767&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 14, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144894
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK75AP025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75AP025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4221  74/12/21 NR.AUBURN,CALIF       BELL 47G3B1         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 84, 1215
        TIME - 1640                    N409RG              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 756 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - AUBURN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ELK GROVE,CALIF            AUBURN,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       50
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LOW LVL FLT IN FOG.ACFT NOT IFR EQUIPPED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N409RG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G3B1
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Auburn

## 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 19741221043879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741221043879A), Dec 21, 1974: Bell 47G3B1, Auburn, CA, Destroyed. Low lvl flt in fog. Acft not IFR equipped.

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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