# NTSB CEN13LA442: Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A, N10009, Streator, IL, July 29, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2013, 06:15 local (11:15 UTC) - Place: Streator, IL - Coordinates: 41.113334, -88.835281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1133&lon=-88.8353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87599 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA442 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87599/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87599 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA442 ## Probable cause The pilot's diverted attention during an agricultural application maneuver, which resulted in the helicopter impacting a corn field. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=8930105), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8930105), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=8930105), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=8930105), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was applying agricultural product to a "J" shaped field. After he completed the aerial application to the "long" portion of the field, the pilot turned south to finish the "small' portion of the field. He stated that he checked the helicopter's light bar, which is often used by pilots as a navigation aid to fly on an indicated swath path. The pilot then "saw corn in the windshield," and the helicopter rolled upside down and subsequently came to rest on its left side. No mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were detected during the helicopter's postaccident examination. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2013, about 0615 central daylight time, a Texas Helicopter Corp. OH-13H/M74A, N10009, collided with high vegetation and terrain during an aerial application flight near Streator, Illinois. The commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter received substantial damage to the airframe. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Hendrickson Flying Service Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual flight rules prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight departed from Toluca, Illinois about 0530. The pilot reported that he was spraying a "J" shaped field and had finished a long swath. He turned the helicopter to the south to finish a small section of the field. He stated that he was about 10 to 15 feet above the corn in level flight after completing the turn. He checked the helicopter's light bar, which is a navigation aid used by pilots to fly on an indicated swath path. The pilot said that the helicopter was about 10 to 15 seconds from entering the section of the field to be sprayed when he "saw corn in the windshield" and the helicopter rolled upside down and subsequently came to rest on its left side. At 0555, the recorded weather at the Pontiac Municipal Airport, near Pontiac, Illinois, was: Wind calm; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 10 degrees C; dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 30.11 inches of mercury. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. No mechanical malfunctions were detected during the helicopter's postaccident examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10009](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N10009), registered now, S/N 79-032, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13H/M74A - Registry model: [Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A](https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13h-m74a) (registry code 8930105) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 79-032 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-A1F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Hendrickson Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Hendrickson Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2013 - Departed: PVT, Toluca, IL - Destination: PVT, Toluca, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 9,950 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 9,800 as pilot in command, 192.5 in the last 90 days, 95.8 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KPNT, 15 nm away ## 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 20130729014049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130729014049A), Jul 29, 2013: Texas Helicopter Corp OH-13H/M74A, Leonore, IL, Destroyed. On July 29, 2013, at approximately 0605 CDT, N10009 a Texas helicopter OH-13H/M47A, impacted the ground in a corn field near [privacy data omitted], Leonore… ## Other investigations on N10009 (3) 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 CEN16LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA284), Jul 25, 2016: Texas Helicopter OH 13H/M74A (N10009), Minonk, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the truck driver to ensure that he had adequate clearance to pass under the helicopter and the failure of the loader to park in a safer area for reloading operations. - [NTSB CEN11CA524](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA524), Jul 28, 2011: Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A (N10009), Creston, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate skid clearance from the helicopter cart during landing, resulting in a dynamic rollover. - [NTSB CHI04CA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA180), Jul 9, 2004: Texas Helicopter M-74 (N10009), Clear Lake, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot failed to maintain a proper glidepath to the landing zone. A factor was the truck pad. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87599. 485 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404813&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous - Record of Communication (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404815&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Record%20of%20Communication-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.