- Date
- May 5, 1982, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Cottonport, LA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9098TContinental Tomcat MK6C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820505013959A
- Case key
- 70355
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
The plt was familiarizing himself with the acft & the local area. The plt's log book showed only one hour of flt time logged between 9/23/81 & the date of the accident. Witnesses observed the acft flying for some time over the city at 300-400 ft AGL making figure 8 patterns or maneuvers similar to agricultural spraying. They also observed debris fallingfrom the acft prior to impact with the ground. The tail rotor drive shaft was found 3 blocks from the wreckage & was found broken into 5 pieces appeared to have been struck by the main rotor (m/r) blades. The tail boom was broken into 30-40 pieces. The static stop had indications of heavy contact within the m/r gimbal. The stop appeared to be bent severely which indicated excessive flapping of the m/r blades.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9098T
- Reported as
- Continental Tomcat MK6C (TOMCAT MK6)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- CC1-79-1
- Airframe hours
- 1,381
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Tell Ag Service
- Registered owner
- Tell Ag Service
- Departed
- Cottonport, LA
- Destination
- Cottonport, LA
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
- 32
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,699 total · 533 in this make and model · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Temperature
- 34 °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 N9098T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.