20100714044139A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Continental TOMCAT MK6B · Blackstone, IL · July 14, 2010

Date: July 14, 2010 · 19:30 local
Place: Blackstone, IL
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N17H
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN10CA411
Reported as: Continental Tomcat MK6B
Reported engine: Lycoming VO-435 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,038 total86 in this make and model148 in the last 90 days

N17HRegistered now · Continental Copters TOMCAT MK6BS/N 13 · Built 1947 Airframe modelContinental Copters TOMCAT MK6B Engine modelLycoming VO-435 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.

Helicopter was involved in aerial application near Blackstone, IL. Pilot had just loaded the spray tank. He had burned 20 minutes worth of fuel out of a full (28 gal.) Tank. He spray path was east and west. He had completed a left turn, leveled the helicopter and turned on the spray when the helicopter settled into the corn. The helicopter slid about 60 feet. After coming to rest, the engine quit. The pilot stated that he had encountered a "dust devil".

As the FAA filed it

HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN AERIAL APPLICATION NEAR BLACKSTONE, IL. PILOT HAD JUST LOADED THE SPRAY TANK. HE HAD BURNED 20 MINUTES WORTH OF FUEL OUT OF A FULL (28 GAL.) TANK. HE SPRAY PATH WAS EAST AND WEST. HE HAD COMPLETED A LEFT TURN, LEVELED THE HELICOPTER AND TURNED ON THE SPRAY WHEN THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO THE CORN. THE HELICOPTER SLID ABOUT 60 FEET. AFTER COMING TO REST, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD ENCOUNTERED A "DUST DEVIL".

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 CEN10CA411Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBlackstone, ILThe helicopter encountered a dust devil at a low altitude during the aerial application flight.Jul 15, 2010 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N17H · 3

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

Accident 20160807014169AManeuver · Sparland, ILWhile spraying a field, the pilot pulled up to avoid trees. As he pulled up, he experienced a reduction in power and the aircraft pulled left. He continued the turn and impacted the ground at the edge of the field.Aug 7, 2016 · Substantial damage Accident 19740716024329ALow Level Operations · Loxahatchee, FLPlt readjustd floodlights due to haze.Jul 16, 1974 · Reported as Bell 47D1 · Destroyed Accident 19730411014509AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Arcadia, FLFuel ckd by gnd crew appeared enough. While spraying orange grove eng quit autorotated btwn trees.Apr 11, 1973 · Reported as Bell 47D1 · Substantial damage