# Accident 20120222005279A: Texas Helicopter Corp OH-13E/M74, Farmington, CA, February 22, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 22, 2012, 11:05 local time
- Place: Farmington, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: MBDG
- Location: 37.9308° N, 121.0286° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9308&lon=-121.0286&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: TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13E/M74
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total, 20,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA115) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120222005279A

## Narrative

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

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 HAD PASSED OUT OR LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THE HELICOPTER MAIN ROTOR STRUCK FIELD FIRST AND HELICOPTER DESTROYED AFTER IMPACT WITH FIELD. PILOT SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES.CONTACT MADE WITH AWP-300 OFFICE OF AEROSPACE MEDICINE, FLIGHT SURGEON ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OFFICE. FORWARDED PILOT STATEMENTS AND ACCIDENT INFORMATION.CONTACT WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TO WAIT UNTIL HE RECEIVES CORRESPONDENCES FROM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ BEFORE FLYING AGAIN.

## 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 WPR12LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA115), Feb 22, 2012: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74 (N43921), Farmington, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of the wood portion of one main rotor blade while maneuvering at low level, the reason for which could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any…

## Other reports on N43921 (2)

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

- [Accident 19910911039289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910911039289A), Sep 11, 1991: Bell OH13ETEXHELI (N43921), Farmington, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine backfired on takeoff. Settled tail first to ground. Pilot hit by main rotor. Helicopter over gross weight.
- [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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