# Accident 20130906017709A: Continental Copters Inc. TOMCAT MK5A, Arlington, MN, September 6, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 2013, 09:30 local time
- Place: Arlington, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: CUHG
- Location: 44.6200° N, 94.1469° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6200&lon=-94.1469&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9005T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9005T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A (registry code 2390101, https://openairdocs.org/model/continental-copters-tomcat-mk5a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming VO-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONTINENTAL COPTERS INC. TOMCAT MK5A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 901 total, 359 in this make and model, 307 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA537](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA537) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130906017709A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, WHILE TRANSITIONING BETWEEN FIELDS IN LEVEL CRUISE AT BETWEEN 300' AND 400' AGL, THE PILOT TRANSFERRED HIS LEFT HAND TO THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL SO THAT HE COULD PLUG HIS HELMET IN WITH HIS RIGHT HAND.   RIGHT AFTER HE PLUGGED IN THE HELMET, THE COLLECTIVE SLAMMED INTO THE DOWN POSITION.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THEN QUICKLY GRABBED THE COLLECTIVE AND RAISED IT BACK TO THE PREVIOUS POSITION.  HE STATED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT LOSING ALTITUDE AND THE ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM NEEDLES BECAME SPLIT ABOUT 180 DEGREES.  IN A CONVERSATION LATER WITH THE PILOT, HE STATED THE ENGINE RPM NEEDLE HAD GONE  TO "0" AND THE ROTOR RPM WAS 280 TO 300 RPM.  HE STATED THAT HE TWISTED THE THROTTLE BACK AND FORTH AND APPEARED TO HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THEN ENTERED INTO AUTOROTATION AND LANDED IN A FIELD.

## 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 CEN13LA537](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA537), Sep 6, 2013: Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A (N9005T), Arlington, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering when he removed his hand from the collective control while plugging in his radio connection to his helmet, which resulted…

## Other reports on N9005T (2)

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

- [Accident 20180726014749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180726014749A), Jul 26, 2018: Continental Copters Inc. TOMCAT MK5A (N9005T), Lesueur, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot departed at dusk. Poor preflight planning. Ran out of fuel. Autorotation was not existent.
- [Accident 19970930029419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970930029419A), Sep 30, 1997: Ccoptr TOMCATMK5A (N9005T), Pipestone Count, MN, Substantial damage. Collided with ground during ag operations. (.4) the pilot stated that while he was ferrying the helicopter to the next field he, `heard a loud bang from…

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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