# NTSB CHI79FEX33: Texas Heli OH-13, N51847, Solitude, IN, July 20, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 20, 1979
- Place: Solitude, IN · SOLITUDE, IN
- Location: 38.0148° N, 87.8989° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Solitude, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0148&lon=-87.8989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134637
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FEX33
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEX33

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2232  79/7/20    SOLITUDE,IN         TEXAS HELI OH-13    CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 39, 3100
        TIME - 1530                    N51847              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MT VERNON,IN                MAHOMET,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           ROTORCRAFT - MISCELLANEOUS UNITS AND ASSEMBLIES: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY SECURED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- SPRAY BOOMS NOT SECURED PROPERLY.FERRY FLIGHT.  SPRAY BOOM STRUCK MAIN ROTOR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51847](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51847-1983-09-20), registration cancelled 1983-09-20, S/N 78016 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXAS HELI OH-13
- Registry model: [Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A](https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13h-m74a) (registry code 8930105) (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 19790720025759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790720025759A), Jul 20, 1979: Bell OH13H, Solitude, IN, Destroyed. Prior to takeoff, plt tied disassembled spray boom to skids. Boom came loose, struck main rotor blade.

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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