# NTSB CHI77FEX23: Bell MK5A, N9010T, Russiaville, IN, May 6, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 6, 1977
- Place: Russiaville, IN · RUSSIAVILLE, IN
- Location: 40.4188° N, 86.2728° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Russiaville, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4188&lon=-86.2728&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 1, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 146748
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI77FEX23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEX23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3990   77/5/6    RUSSIAVILLE,IN      BELL MK5A           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 24, 314
        TIME - 1245                    N9010T              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 63 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RUSSIAVILLE,IN              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: TAIL ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  150                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - CORN                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  860                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - SECOND 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- SPRAYING CORN. PILOT ABLE TO STOP ACFT TURNING BEFORE TOUCHDOWN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9010T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9010T-2000-06-02), registration cancelled 2000-06-02, S/N CCI-74-3 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL MK5A
- Registry model: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/continental-copters-tomcat-mk5a) (registry code 2390101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19770506023029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770506023029A), May 6, 1977: Bell 47G2, Russiaville, IN, Substantial damage. Spraying corn. Pilot able to stop acft turning before touchdown.

## Other investigations on N9010T (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 ATL99FA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99FA132), Sep 16, 1999: Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A (N9010T), Heflin, AL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot of N9010T's failure to maintain visual lookout while maneuvering, resulting in a midair collision with N30899. A factor was the sun glare.
- [NTSB MIA91LA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA220), Sep 18, 1991: Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A (N9010T), Bay Springs, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
- [NTSB CHI77FEX46](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEX46), Sep 1, 1977: Tomcat MK5A (N9010T), Monrovia, IN, substantial damage

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.

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