- Date
- July 30, 1993, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Duson, LA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9014TContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 19, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930730027229A
- Case key
- 18305
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the transmission mast bearing, resulting in oil contamination and subsequent blockage of the internal oil ports and passages. Factors were: total loss of collective control and partial loss of cyclic control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While engaged in an aerial application operation, the pilot heard banging noises and the engine began to overspeed. Although collective control was ineffective, the pilot was able to maneuver the helicopter to a hard landing using throttle and partial cyclic control. Post accident investigation disclosed the transmission mast bearing had failed, contaminating the oil with steel particles that obstructed the internal oil passages.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9014T
- Reported as
- Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A (TOMCAT MK5)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- CC174-5
- Airframe hours
- 3,786
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Penn-Tex Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Penn-Tex Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 9, 1993 · 358 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 9,150 total · 5,000 in this make and model · 9,000 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9014T · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.