NTSB CAROL · Event
Event LAX92LA278
Registry · N4798R
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
BELL 47G-5
Year of manufacture
1968 · 24 years old at event
TCDS
2H3 · SCOTT'S-BELL 47 INC
Engine
LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES (260 hp)
Seats / Engines
3 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20021105
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5E609
Registrant of record
TRIPLE F FLYING INC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNKNOWN REASON (S). FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE 1) LOW ALTITUDE WHEN THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED 2) LOW ROTOR RPM AS A RESULT OF THE LOSS OF POWER, AND 3) THE PILOT NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE AND ROTOR RPM.
Factual narrative
ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A TAKEOFF AFTER THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN LOADED WITH ABOUT 60 GALLONS OF INSECTICIDE. THE HELICOPTER ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 TO 60 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN THE WITNESS OBSERVED THE TAIL ROTOR MOVE LATERALLY ABOUT 4 TO 5 FEET. THE WITNESS SAID HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT SETTLE TO THE GROUND AND LAND HARD. HE SAID HE IMMEDIATELY ASKED THE PILOT WHAT HAPPENED. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY TOLD THE WITNESS THAT HE HAD A 'POWER DROOP.' THE CAUSE OF THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER WAS NOT DETERMINED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1992_LAX92LA278.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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