Bell 47G4A accident near Stockton, California, February 2, 1987
On February 2, 1987 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Bell 47G4A (helicopter), registered N28938, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockton, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 2, 1987 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stockton, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G4A · all 47G4As on the register
- Registration
- N28938 · no longer on the register · serial 7728
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS WHILE TRANSPORTING AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT. A FRACTOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED FUEL DISCONNECT FITTING BY ANAMET LABORATORIES, CONCLUDED THAT APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE RETAINING RING ON THE FUEL DISCONNECT FITTING HAD FRACTURED BY METAL FATIGUE. THE FATIGUE CRACK WAS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE CRASH; HOWEVER, IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THE FRACTURE MAY HAVE CAUSED PARTIAL CLOSING OF THE DISCONNECT VALVE IN THE FITTING. THIS COULD CUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY DURING OPERATION.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 935 hours in all; 726 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 714 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,012 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 30, 1987; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N28938 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.