19910911039289A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell OH13ETEXHELI · Farmington, CA · September 11, 1991

Date: September 11, 1991 · 07:58 local
Place: Farmington, CA
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: MBDG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N43921
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX91LA388
Reported as: Bell OH13ETEXHELI
Reported engine: Lycoming VO435B1A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,000 total

N43921Registered now · Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74S/N 76-003 · Built 1977 Airframe modelTexas Helicopter OH-13E/M74 Engine modelLycoming VO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Engine backfired on takeoff. Settled tail first to ground. Pilot hit by main rotor. Helicopter over gross weight.

As the FAA filed it

ENGINE BACKFIRED ON TAKEOFF. SETTLED TAIL FIRST TO GROUND. PILOT HIT BY MAIN ROTOR. HELICOPTER OVER GROSS WEIGHT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX91LA388Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportFarmington, CALoss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Factors related to the accident were: the excessive gross weight of the helicopter, and the pilot's improper use of flight controls due to impairment from use of a drug (marijuanna).Sep 11, 1991 · Destroyed

Other reports on N43921 · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20120222005279AManeuver · Farmington, CAA ag air agricultural operator, certificate designator(mbdg) pilot [privacy data omitted] was flying solo spraying a field of wheat and while performing a turn had passed out or lost consciousness. Evidence shows that the helicopter main rotor struck field…Feb 22, 2012 · Destroyed Accident 19900827037099AForced/Precautionary Landing · Stockton, CARough engine and power loss on takeoff. Dropped to ground causing substantial damage. Mag timing improperly set.Aug 27, 1990 · Reported as Bell OH13M74TEXH · Substantial damage