# Accident 19980715016709A: Bell OH13H, Citronelle, AL, July 15, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 15, 1998, 18:00 local time
- Place: Citronelle, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Settle With Power (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LLAG
- Location: 31.0897° N, 88.2395° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0897&lon=-88.2395&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1001F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1001F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A (registry code 8930105, https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13h-m74a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (registry code 42200, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-a1f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH13H
- Reported engine: LYC VO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 26,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA197) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980715016709A

## Narrative

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

(.4)AS THE SPRAY HELICOPTER TURNED DOWNWIND EN ROUTE TO HIS SPRAY TRACT, HE ENTERED A SINKING CONDITION FROM WHICH APPLICATION OF FULL POWER DID NOT PREVENT COLLIDING WITH TREES SITUATED ALONG A RIDGELINE. (-23) HELICOPTER HAD JUST LOADED (100 GAL) OF CHEMICAL, LIFTED OFF AND PROCEEDED WESTERLY AT 100 FT. ABOVE TREES/POWER LINES. WITH FORWARD AIR SPEED OF 50 MPH ON AN EASTERLY HEADING APPROACHING AN OIL WELL SITE THE HELICOPTERSTARTED LOSING ALTITUDE. FULL THROTTLE WAS APPLIED WHICH RESULTED IN NO APPARENT INCREASE IN POWER OR RPM. CHEMICAL WAS DUMPED AND 8 TO 10 SECONDS LATER AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TREES.

## 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 MIA98LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA197), Jul 15, 1998: Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M47A (N1001F), Citronelle, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to control the helicopter's altitude while overflying an area of rising terrain and trees.

## Other reports on N1001F (1)

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

- [Accident 19810729046009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810729046009A), Jul 29, 1981: Bell OH13M74TEXH (N1001F), Rickman, TN, Destroyed. Tried to take off with ground man fueling helicopter. Lost control at end of fuel hose.

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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