# NTSB LAX79DUK09: Bell M-74, N38105, Ehrenberg, AZ, August 21, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 21, 1979
- Place: Ehrenberg, AZ · EHRENBERG, AZ
- Location: 33.6142° N, 114.4830° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ehrenberg, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6142&lon=-114.4830&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79DUK09
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DUK09

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2058  79/8/21  NR.EHRENBERG,AZ       BELL M-74           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2000                    N38105              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 40, 10675 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 1000 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BLYTHE,AZ                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 6000                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  250                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - FIRST 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- WEED CONTROL. TAIL ROTOR OUTPUT ASSEMBLY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38105](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38105-2012-06-07), registration cancelled 2012-06-07, S/N 77-009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL M-74
- Registry model: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74](https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13e-m74) (registry code 8930103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790821026459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790821026459A), Aug 21, 1979: Texhel OH13ETEXHELI, Ehrenberg, AZ, Substantial damage. Failure of tail rotor drive assembly.

## Other investigations on N38105 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX81DUG37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUG37), Jul 5, 1981: Texas Heli M74 (N38105), Blythe, CA, destroyed

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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