# NTSB LAX81DUQ26: Texas Hel M74A, N51856, Rosamond, CA, July 3, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 3, 1981
- Place: Rosamond, CA · ROSAMOND, CA
- Location: 34.8641° N, 118.1634° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rosamond, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8641&lon=-118.1634&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 28, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124515
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DUQ26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUQ26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2352   81/7/3  NR.ROSAMOND,CA        TEXAS HEL M74A      CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 6963
        TIME - 0630                    N51856              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 890 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ROSAMOND,CA                  RETURN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - 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 -  2400                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UPWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - SECOND 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- PLT RPRTD FUEL GAUGE INDCD 7GALS REMAINING WHEN ENG LOST PWR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51856](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51856-2022-02-08), registration cancelled 2022-02-08, S/N 78-023, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXAS HEL M74A
- 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-A1F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-a1f) (registry code 42200, 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 19810703038939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810703038939A), Jul 3, 1981: Bell OH13M74TEXH, Rosamond, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel during spray run. Made hard autorotation landing.

## Other investigations on N51856 (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 LAX86LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA283), Jul 6, 1986: Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M (N51856), Valencia, CA, substantial damage

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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