# NTSB OAK78FVM41: Bell 47-G2, N68367, Soledad, CA, August 12, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 12, 1978
- Place: Soledad, CA · SOLEDAD, CA
- Location: 36.4345° N, 121.3178° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Soledad, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4345&lon=-121.3178&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 11, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140093
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FVM41
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FVM41

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2427  78/8/12  NR.SOLEDAD,CA         BELL 47-G2          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 4030
        TIME - 1045                    N68367              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 1500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         SOLEDAD,CA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - PROPELLER AND ACCESSORIES: BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 4000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - LETTUCE                                   TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED                            COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED                                TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - AFT OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT                                 ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  160
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UPWIND
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR BLADE (PN 47-642-K02-55) FAILED AT INSERT ON SHANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68367](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68367-1990-03-26), registration cancelled 1990-03-26, S/N 811 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47-G2
- Registry model: [Bell 47G-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47g-2) (registry code 1181008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780812026739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780812026739A), Aug 12, 1978: Bell 47B3, Soledad, CA, Substantial damage. Tail rotor blade (pn 47-642-K02-55) failed at insert on shank.

## Other investigations on N68367 (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 OAK79FVM24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79FVM24), May 25, 1979: Bell 47-G2 (N68367), Salinas, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK74FVD22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74FVD22), Mar 30, 1974: Bell 47D1 (N68367), Sebastopol, CA, 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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