# NTSB OAK78FVM46: Bell 47D1, N78900, Castroville, CA, September 17, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 17, 1978
- Place: Castroville, CA · CASTROVILLE, CA
- Location: 36.7648° N, 121.7534° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Castroville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7648&lon=-121.7534&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139649
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FVM46
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FVM46

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78900), registered now, S/N 480, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47D1
- Registry model: [Bell 47D1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-47d1) (registry code 1180802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v4-series) (registry code 27033, reciprocating) (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 19780917028729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780917028729A), Sep 17, 1978: Bell 47B3, Castroville, CA, Substantial damage. Collective pitch became uncontrollable. Main rotor shaft and retai nut scuffed and out of round

## Other investigations on N78900 (3)

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 CEN13LA396](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA396), Jun 28, 2013: Bell 47D1 (N78900), Lake Ozark, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…
- [NTSB LAX96FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96FA045), Nov 12, 1995: Bell 47D1 (N78900), Shafter, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot misjudged the altitude and ground clearance while performing an unwarranted low altitude flight maneuver.
- [NTSB LAX80FVM17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FVM17), Mar 9, 1980: Bell 47D1 (N78900), Salinas, 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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