Bell 47G-5 accident near Irvine, California, February 10, 1983
On February 10, 1983 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Bell 47G-5 (helicopter), registered N1375X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Irvine, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1983 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Irvine, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-5 · all 47G-5s on the register
- Registration
- N1375X · no longer on the register · serial 7840
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD IN A FIELD OFF THE AIRPORT FOLLOWING AN ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE ACFR HAD LIFTED OFF AND ONLY TRAVELED ABOUT 50 FEET AT 15 FEET AGL WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT THE RINGS ON 3 CYLINDERS HAD NOT SEATED AND WERE LEAKING OIL INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. THE PLUGS IN THESE CYLINDERS WERE CARBON FOULED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,509 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 3, 1983; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,840 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming L-3840-31 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N1375X 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.