Bell 47-G5 accident near Coalinga, California, June 18, 1995
On June 18, 1995 at about 5:30 am local time, a Bell 47-G5 (helicopter), registered N7923J, was destroyed in an accident near Coalinga, California. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
clutch slippage for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the helicopter's low above ground altitude, which limited the pilot's time and ability to recover main rotor rpm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1995 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47-G5 · all 47-G5s on the register
- Registration
- N7923J · no longer on the register · serial 25040
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST LIFTED OFF FROM A REFUELING TRUCK AND WAS RETURNING TO BASE AT LOW ALTITUDE FROM APPLYING CHEMICALS TO A FIELD WHEN HE NOTED A SPLIT IN THE ENGINE/ROTOR TACHOMETER. THE ENGINE RPM'S BEGAN TO INCREASE WHILE THE MAIN ROTOR SPEED BEGAN TO DECAY. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH COLLECTIVE AND THROTTLE MANIPULATION WHEN THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. HE REPORTED THAT NO ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED WITH EITHER THE ENGINE, THE TRANSMISSION, OR THE FREEWHEELING UNIT. HEAT DISCOLORATION AND BURNED OIL RESIDUE WERE NOTED ON THE CLUTCH.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,800 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,733 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1995; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Breen Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 3CA4 Huron CA at 4:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 am from NLC, 15 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.
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.