# Accident 19910911039289A: Bell OH13ETEXHELI, Farmington, CA, September 11, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 11, 1991, 07:58 local time
- Place: Farmington, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: MBDG
- Location: 37.9603° N, 120.8690° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9603&lon=-120.8690&mi=10
- Aircraft: N43921, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43921) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74 (registry code 8930103, https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13e-m74) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-540 series (registry code 41534, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH13ETEXHELI
- Reported engine: LYC VO435B1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX91LA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA388) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910911039289A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX91LA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA388), Sep 11, 1991: Texas Helicopter M74 (N43921), Farmington, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: LOSS 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…

## Other reports on N43921 (2)

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

- [Accident 20120222005279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120222005279A), Feb 22, 2012: Texas Helicopter Corp OH-13E/M74 (N43921), Farmington, CA, Destroyed. A ag air agricultural operator, certificate designator(mbdg) pilot [privacy data omitted] was flying solo spraying a field of wheat and while performing a turn…
- [Accident 19900827037099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900827037099A), Aug 27, 1990: Bell OH13M74TEXH (N43921), Stockton, CA, Substantial damage. Rough engine and power loss on takeoff. Dropped to ground causing substantial damage. Mag timing improperly set.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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