# Accident 20130929020249A: Texas Helicopter Corp OH-13E/M74, Santa Maria, CA, September 29, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 29, 2013, 08:05 local time
- Place: Santa Maria, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: ROOG
- Location: 34.9672° N, 120.5444° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9672&lon=-120.5444&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38113, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38113) (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-435 series (registry code 41525, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13E/M74
- Reported engine: LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 12,500 total, 12,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13LA429](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA429) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130929020249A

## Narrative

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

AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS UNDER 14 CFR PART 137, AND ACTIVELY SPRAYING AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD. THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER, N38113, WAS HEADING WEST WHEN IT FLEW UNDERNEATH OVERHEAD POWER AND TELEPHONE WIRES, AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE TELEPHONE WIRE. THE SWASH PLATE DRIVE LINKS OF THE MAIN ROTOR BROKE. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE MAIN ROTOR, AND LANDED HARD ON THE HELICOPTER?S SKIDS IN A FIELD JUST WEST OF THE FIELD BEING SPRAYED. THE THIN SUPPORT BRAID CABLE THAT WRAPS AROUND THE TELEPHONE CABLE WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE ROTATING SECTION OF THE SWASH PLATE.

## 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; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR13LA429](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA429), Sep 29, 2013: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74 (N38113), Santa Maria, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate monitoring of the environment and failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires during a low-altitude maneuver.

## Other reports on N38113 (1)

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

- [Accident 19780522011449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780522011449A), May 22, 1978: Bell OH13HTEXHELI (N38113), Fisher, AR, Substantial damage

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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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