# NTSB OAK79DVM07: Bell 47G2, N8404E, Castroville, CA, December 6, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: December 6, 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: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 7, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138306
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79DVM07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79DVM07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3740   78/12/6 NR.CASTROVILLE,CA     BELL 47G2           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 4765
        TIME - 0830                    N8404E              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 645 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROGERS ROAD                 HAYMORE RANCH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: PULLUP FROM SWATH RUN
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 3500                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT 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 -  35                  SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- LANDING AREA WAS PRIVATE ROAD.SPRAYING ARTICHOKES,WIRE STRIKE RSLTD IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8404E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8404E-1989-12-06), registration cancelled 1989-12-06, S/N 2013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 47G2
- 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 19781206040789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781206040789A), Dec 6, 1978: Bell 47B3, Castroville, CA, Substantial damage. Landing area was private road. Spraying artichokes,wire strike rsln loss of directional control

## Other investigations on N8404E (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 LAX86LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA070), Dec 19, 1985: Bell 47G2 (N8404E), Moss, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX85LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA035), Oct 28, 1984: Bell 47-G2 (N8404E), Castroville, 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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