- Date
- September 17, 1978
- Place
- Castroville, CA · CASTROVILLE, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N78900Bell 47D1
- Status
- Completed · report October 25, 1978
- Report
- Brief approved by the director
- FAA report
- 19780917028729A
- Case key
- 139649
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
NTSB brief
NTSB’s brief of the accident, as it was printed: the coded facts, with the probable cause and factors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA F S M/N PURPOSE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-2724 78/9/17 NR.CASTROVILLE,CA BELL 47D1 CR- 0 0 1 COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR., TIME - 0900 N78900 PX- 0 0 0 ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY AGE 48, 4000 TOTAL HOURS, DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL OT- 0 0 0 3000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED. DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION CASTROVILLE,CA LOCAL TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR TAKEOFF: VERTICAL HARD LANDING LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN PROBABLE CAUSE(S) MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED FACTOR(S) POWERPLANT - PROPELLER AND ACCESSORIES: BLADE RETENTION MECHANISM MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOOSE,PART/FITTING EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT. PITCH CONTROL PROBLEM SPECIAL DATA TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED KIND OF OPERATION - FERRY PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY REMARKS- COLLECTIVE PITCH BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE.MAIN ROTOR SHAFT AND RETAINING NUT SCUFFED AND OUT OF ROUND
Aircraft
- Registration
- N78900
- Reported as
- Bell 47D1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engine
- reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N78900 · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.
NTSB CEN13LA396Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLake Ozark, MOThe improper rebuild and maintenance of the helicopter and inadequate subsequent inspections, which resulted in undetected fuel contamination and a subsequent total loss of engine power during cruise flight.NTSB LAX96FA045Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportShafter, CAthe pilot misjudged the altitude and ground clearance while performing an unwarranted low altitude flight maneuver.NTSB LAX80FVM17Accident · No injuriesClosedSalinas, CA