Bell 47-G4 accident near Porterville, California, June 13, 2003
On June 13, 2003 at about 4:56 pm local time, a Bell 47-G4 (helicopter), registered N9017N, was destroyed in an accident near Porterville, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2003 · about 4:56 pm local time
- Place
- Porterville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-G4 · all 47-G4s on the register
- Registration
- N9017N · no longer on the register · serial 7670
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route to a field for an aerial pesticide application, the helicopter pitched nose down and impacted the ground. Two roads ran perpendicular to the accident site; one ran east/west, and the other ran north/south. The pilot departed from a service truck in a southwest direction. The destination field was 2 miles southwest of the service truck. As the pilot crossed the east/west road, he made a wide, left turn, traveling northbound. At the intersection of the two roads, the helicopter maneuvered up and over power lines that were parallel to the east/west road. The helicopter turned left about 90 degrees (west), followed by another left turn of 90 degrees (south). The nose suddenly pitched down, and the helicopter impacted the ground. The wreckage site was 1/2 block north from the intersection of the two roads. Post examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,100 hours in all; 5,370 in this make and model; 13,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,174.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 15, 2003; 64.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Porterville CA at 4:54 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KPTV, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N9017N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.