# NTSB LAX84LA041: Continental Copters Tomcat Mark 5A, N9092T, Castroville, CA, November 2, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 2, 1983, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Castroville, CA
- Coordinates: 36.760448, -121.750572 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7604&lon=-121.7506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24077
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24077/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA041

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE LAST SWATH RUN. WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED THE ACFT WAS 6 FT AGL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE STOPPED FROM FUEL STARVATION. ON RECOMMENDATION FOR PREVENTION THE PILOT STATED 'ALLOWING MORE FUEL RESERVE AND NOT RELYING ON FUEL GAUGES'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9092T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9092T-2013-03-18), registration cancelled 2013-03-18, S/N CCI 78-4 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Continental Copters TOMCAT MARK 5A (TOMCAT MAR)
- Registry model: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/continental-copters-tomcat-mk5a) (registry code 2390101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: CCI-78-4
- Airframe hours: 2381
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-A1E 425 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Gomes Farm Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1983, 61 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 7,225 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 6,985 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 145° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F

## 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 19831102056179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831102056179A), Nov 2, 1983: Tomcat OH13HMK6B, Castroville, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel during a spray run. Made a hard autorotation landing. Main rotors chopped off the tail boom.

## Other investigations on N9092T (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 LAX89DVM01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DVM01), Oct 16, 1988: Continental Copters OH13H (N9092T), Castroville, 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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