# NTSB LAX81DUG52: Texas Hel OH-13E, N38110, Blythe, CA, September 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 25, 1981
- Place: Blythe, CA · BLYTHE, CA
- Location: 33.6535° N, 114.6218° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Blythe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6535&lon=-114.6218&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 1, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123815
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DUG52
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUG52

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2332  81/9/25    BLYTHE,CA           TEXAS HEL OH-13E    CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0430                    N38110              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 37, 5384 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            126 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BLYTHE,CA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           ROLL OVER                                                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - EXCESSIVE-WEAR/PLAY
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - RPM-UNCONTROLLABLE-OVERSPEED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 3880                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    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 -  500
        REMARKS- ENCTRD ENG OVRSPD DRG LIFT-OFF FM SVC TRUCK.CLUTCH SHOES GLAZED,ONLY 20PCT CONTACT BTN SHOES,DRUM.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38110](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38110), registered now, S/N 77-010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXAS HEL OH-13E
- 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 19810925062909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810925062909A), Sep 25, 1981: Bell OH13M74TEXH, Blythe, CA, Substantial damage. Indication of dropping rotor rpms. Crashed on believed emergency landing. Found sheared tach and generator shafts.

## Other investigations on N38110 (2)

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 WPR10CA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA285), Jun 11, 2010: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74 (N38110), Los Banos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's failure to verify the fuel quantity onboard.
- [NTSB LAX94LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA084), Dec 28, 1993: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74L (N38110), Los Banos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO UTILIZE CARBURETOR HEAT. THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WERE A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

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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