# NTSB LAX81DUK10: Texas Hel OH-13H, N51853, Yuma, AZ, September 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 25, 1981
- Place: Yuma, AZ · YUMA, AZ
- Location: 32.7253° N, 114.6244° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Yuma, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7253&lon=-114.6244&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 24, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123803
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DUK10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUK10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2300  81/9/25  NR.YUMA,AZ            TEXAS HEL OH-13H    CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 7369
        TIME - 1030                    N51853              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 618 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         YUMA,AZ                      LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: PULLUP FROM SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 7000                       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 - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  213                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51853](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51853-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N 78-021, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXAS HEL OH-13H
- Registry model: [Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A](https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13h-m74a) (registry code 8930105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (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 19810925064169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810925064169A), Sep 25, 1981: Bell OH13HTEXHELI, Yuma, AZ, Substantial damage. Struck telephone wires on pullup from a spray run. Wires tangled in main rotors.

## Other investigations on N51853 (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 CEN14LA418](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA418), May 28, 2014: Texas Helicopter OH 13H/M74A (N51853), Little Falls, MN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree at the edge of a field that he was spraying.

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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