Bell 47G-4A N1185W

Summary

On 8 August 1986 at about 15:15 local time, a Bell 47G-4A registered N1185W was involved in an accident near Shafter, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

8 August 1986 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Shafter, California, United States

Nearest airport

Shafter-Minter Field (MIT)

Coordinates

35.4896, -119.2993

Aircraft

Bell 47G-4A

Registration

N1185W

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX86DVA13

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING THE LOADING RIG, EN ROUTE TO AN AGRICULTURAL AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE FORWARD COUPLING TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED. THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 10 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND ABOUT 100 FT WEST OF THE LOADING RIG. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN IMMEDIATE AUTOROTATION BUT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THE COUPLING SUSTAINED EXTREME HIGH TEMP DISTRESS DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE HELICOPTER HAD FLOWN 178 HOURS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL/100-HOUR INSPECTION. A 100-HOUR INSPECTION IS REQUIRED FOR THE OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.