Bell 47G2 accident near Moss, California, December 19, 1985
On December 19, 1985 at about 1:21 am local time, a Bell 47G2 (helicopter), registered N8404E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moss, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- December 19, 1985 · about 1:21 am local time
- Place
- Moss, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G2 · all 47G2s on the register
- Registration
- N8404E · no longer on the register · serial 2013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER STARTING A LEFT CLIMBING TURN AT THE END OF A SPRAY RUN THE PLT SAID HE FELT A 'SHUDDER IN THE AIRFRAME' AS THE ENGINE 'WENT TO FULL RPM.' THE PLT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT 'THE CLUTCH HAD SLIPPED' AND ADDED COLLECTIVE TO COMPENSATE. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN SETTLING TOWARD THE GROUND AND THE PLT SAID HE COULD NOT ARREST THE DESCENT PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES WERE EXAMINED, WITH NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION EVIDENT.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1985; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 540 Castroville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from SNS, 12 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 N8404E 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.