# NTSB LAX80FVM26: Tom Cat I, N9002T, Watsonville, CA, May 1, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 1, 1980
- Place: Watsonville, CA · WATSONVILLE, CA
- Location: 36.9236° N, 121.7724° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Watsonville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9236&lon=-121.7724&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 23, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 70-10-08](https://openairdocs.org/ad/70-10-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131042
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FVM26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FVM26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1634   80/5/1    WATSONVILLE,CA      TOM CAT I           CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 2284
        TIME - 0630                    N9002T              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 579 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WATSONVILLE,CA              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: TAIL ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY
          GLOVES - NOT USED                                        GOGGLES - NOT USED
          CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED                            COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED                                TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - AFT OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT                                 ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  100
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR BLADE,PN 47-642-102,FAILED APRX 1232HRS.AD 70-10-08 RQRD REMOVAL BFR 600HRS.CAULIFLOWER
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9002T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9002T-1980-11-19), registration cancelled 1980-11-19, S/N 734 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TOM CAT I
- Registry model: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/continental-copters-tomcat-mk5b) (registry code 2390102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19800501011499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800501011499A), May 1, 1980: Ccoptr OH13HCCOPTER, Watsonville, CA, Substantial damage. Tail rotor blades failed during low level hover. Helicopter crashed in right turn. Blades were beyond use limit.

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.