- Date
- July 21, 1995, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Alicia, AR
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3771WWilliams Bell OH13H/Tomcat MK5A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 19, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950721019309A
- Case key
- 19507
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
The pilot's failure to remove the refueling hose. A factor was that he diverted his attention from the refueling operation.
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
Following agricultural operations, the pilot landed to refuel and to load chemicals. After placing the fuel hose in the tank, the pilot walked away from the helicopter to talk to a customer. He failed to remove the refueling hose prior to takeoff resulting in the helicopter striking a parked vehicle.
Factual narrative
On July 21, 1995, at 1630 central daylight time, a Williams Flying Service OH13H/Tomcat MK5A, N3771W, impacted the ground during takeoff near Alicia, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. No flight plan was filed for the aerial application flight operated by AAC Flying Service under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which was originating when the accident occurred.
The operator reported that the pilot landed to refuel and to load chemicals. After placing the fuel hose in the tank, the pilot walked away from the helicopter to talk to a customer. The pilot returned to the aircraft and "attempted to takeoff with the fuel hose still in fuel tank" resulting in the aircraft striking the "ground and a 1990 Ford pickup at the same time." The rotor blades, skids, and fuselage of the helicopter were damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3771W
- Reported as
- Williams Bell OH13H/Tomcat MK5A (OH13H/TOMC)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- WFS80-1
- Airframe hours
- 936
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Aac Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 5, 1995 · 98 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
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
- 24
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,518 total · 1,389 in this make and model · 1,342 as pilot in command · 359 in the last 90 days · 158 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 1 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.