# NTSB CEN13LA436: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, N176MR, Champaign, IL, July 24, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2013, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Champaign, IL - Coordinates: 40.163055, -88.30722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1631&lon=-88.3072&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-SPI-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87575 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA436 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87575/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87575 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA436 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during an aerial application maneuver. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8930103), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=8930103), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8930103), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8930103), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the helicopter reported that he was completing a turn to re-enter a field for an aerial application pass when he heard a loud "pop" and felt a vibration and noted with a decay in rotor speed. He applied aft cyclic and reduced the collective, initiating an autorotation. He stated that the helicopter rolled to the left and that he applied right cyclic with no response. He was able to raise the nose of the helicopter before impacting corn in a 15-degree left bank. The helicopter came to rest 120 degrees from the direction of flight with the engine running. A postaccident examination of the helicopter and a metallurgical examination of the fractured main rotor system components did not reveal any failure or malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of control as described by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2013, about 1130 central daylight time, a Texas Helicopter OH-13E, N176MR, collided with the terrain following what the pilot described as a loss of main rotor effectiveness during an aerial application flight near Champaign, Illinois. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The helicopter received substantial damage to the airframe. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Reynolds Aerial Service LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual flight rules prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated about 1120. The pilot reported he was completing a turn to re-enter a field for an aerial application pass when he heard a loud "pop" and experienced a "1 to 1" vibration along with decay in rotor speed. He applied aft cyclic and reduced the collective, initiating an autorotation. He stated the helicopter rolled to the left and he applied right cyclic with no response. He was able to raise the nose of the helicopter prior to impacting the corn in a 15 degree left bank. The helicopter came to rest 120 degrees from the direction of flight. The pilot reported the engine was running when the helicopter came to rest. The helicopter was relocated to Scott's Helicopters in LeSueur, Minnesota, where it was examined by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The upper pitch change link, the equalizer beam rod end, the lower pitch change link, and the lateral cyclic torque tube assembly were fractured. These components were removed for further examination by the NTSB metallurgical laboratory. The examination revealed the fractures were a result of overstress with no evidence of any preexisting cracks. The examination of the helicopter did not reveal any failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of control as described by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N176MR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N176MR-2017-08-17), registration cancelled 2017-08-17, S/N 76001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13E/M74 - Registry model: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74](https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13e-m74) (registry code 8930103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-540-B1B3](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-540-b1b3) (registry code 42232, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 76001 - Airframe hours: 2490 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435-A1F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Reynolds Aerial Service LLC - Registered owner: Reynolds Aerial Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2013 - Departed: Champaign, IL - Destination: Champaign, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: powered-lift; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2013; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,902 total, 2,202 in this make and model, 10,788 as pilot in command, 228 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: CMI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130724013739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130724013739A), Jul 24, 2013: Texas Helicopter Corp OH-13E/M74, Champaign, IL, Substantial damage. The pilot, while conducting aerial applications, heard a "loud pop" and noted that the main rotor RPM was beginning to decay. He then attempted to autorotate… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87575. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 626 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Helicopter Examination (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Helicopter%20Examination-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Accident Site. (item 4, .PDF, 421 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408037&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Accident%20Site.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. N176MR. (item 5, .PDF, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20N176MR.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Main Rotor Shaft and Mast. (item 6, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Main%20Rotor%20Shaft%20and%20Mast.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Tail Rotor. (item 7, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Tail%20Rotor.-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Tail Rotor Drive Shaft (item 8, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20Tail%20Rotor%20Drive%20Shaft-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.