# Accident 20110503007659A: Texas Helicopter Corp OH-13E/M74, New Columbia, IL, May 3, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2011, 18:30 local time
- Place: New Columbia, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: HNKG
- Location: 37.3408° N, 88.8150° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3408&lon=-88.8150&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38096, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38096) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74 (registry code 8930103, https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13e-m74) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13E/M74
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 15,395 total, 2,384 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11LA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA317) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110503007659A

## Narrative

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

THE ROTORCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING SPRAY OPERATIONS ON A WHEAT FIELD. THE ROTORCRAFT HAD JUST COMPLETED A RE-SUPPLY OF CHEMICALS AND WAS TAKING OFF TO RESUME SPRAYING. AS THE ROTORCRAFT BEGAN ITS TAKOFF AND UPON ENTERING EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT THE WIND CALMED CAUSING THE ROTORCRAFT TO DECEND SLIGHTLY AND ALLOWING THE SPRAY BOOMS TO CONTACT THE WHEAT. UPON CONTACT WITH THE WHEAT THE ROTORCRAFT WAS PULLED RAPIDLY INTO A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE ROTORCRAFT YAWED TO THE LEFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ROTORCRAFT BUT FORTUNATELY LEAVING THE PILOT UNINJURED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST THAT HE HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND THAT NO MECHANICAL ISSUES HAD OCCURRED TO CAUSE THIS ACCIDENT.

## 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 CEN11LA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA317), May 3, 2011: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74 (N38096), New Columbia, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the wheat crop during takeoff.

## Other reports on N38096 (1)

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

- [Accident 20030806026159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030806026159A), Aug 6, 2003: Bell OH13EM74 (N38096), Byron, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft had just reloaded with pesticide and was lifting off from loading platform. Aircraft was unable to gain lift, descended into ground and rolled…

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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