# NTSB FTW02LA216: Bell TH-13T, N99628, New Iberia, LA, July 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2002, 07:16 local (12:16 UTC) - Place: New Iberia, LA - Coordinates: 30.06611, -91.797225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0661&lon=-91.7972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55296 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55296/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55296 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA216 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. High vegetation was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis After the pilot had finished spraying his load and was en route to the loading facility, he noticed that he had 15 gallons of fuel remaining. Approximately 1 minute later the helicopter experienced a complete loss of engine power. Subsequently, an autorotation was initiated over a sugar cane field. Prior to contacting the high vegatation, the pilot flared by adding full aft cyclic and up collective, resulting in the main rotor blades striking and severing the tail boom, the tail rotor separating, and the helicopter coming to rest in a upright position. There was no post-impact fire. The cause of the loss of power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2002, approximately 0716 Central daylight time, a Bell TH-13T helicopter, N99628, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain following a complete loss of engine power while maneuvering near New Iberia, Louisiana. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Gentry Flying Service, Selma, Alabama. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight departed a private airstrip at 0706, and no flight plan was filed. In a telephone interview and in a written statement supplied to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that at 0715 he noticed 15 gallons of fuel remaining. The pilot stated that he had just finished spraying his load and was returning to the loading facility when the helicopter experienced a complete loss of engine power. He then initiated an autorotation at 50 miles per hour over a sugar cane field. Prior to contacting the high vegetation, the pilot reported that he flared by adding full aft cyclic and up collective, which resulted in the main rotor blades striking the tail boom and sheering it off. Subsequently, the tail rotor separated and was found approximately 60 feet forward of where the helicopter came to rest in an upright position. The pilot reported that all cross tubes had been "yanked out," and the cabin was twisted to the left. Both the cyclic and collective were completely jammed, and the tail boom had been sheered off where it attaches to the center section. Two drag brace bolts, which hold the main rotor blades in place, were also sheered off. There was no post-impact fire. The aircraft was moved from the accident site to the facilities at Coastal Helicopters, Panama City, Florida A certified airframe and powerplant mechanic who examined the engine reported no anomalies were detected which would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99628](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99628), registered now, S/N 6715924, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell TH-13T - Registry model: [Bell TH-13T](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-th-13t) (registry code 1180813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 6715924 - Airframe hours: 12706.2 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435A1F 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Gentry Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2002, 15 hours before - Departed: New Iberia, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 18, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 8,310 total, 116 in this make and model, 8,246 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg ## 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 20020718022459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020718022459A), Jul 18, 2002: Bell TH13T, Newiberia, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) During cruise flight, the aircraft lost power. The cause is unknown. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55296. 417 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Telephone Interview with Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Telephone%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-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.