- Date
- July 16, 1989, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hilmar, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N38117Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890716023059A
- Case key
- 26154
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control during an attempted takeoff from a loading platform.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot initiated a lifted-off from a loading platform and the helicopter began to roll and slide to the left. The helicopter rotated 180 degrees and the tail rotor struck a dirt bank during the pilot's attempt to land. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N38117
- Reported as
- Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 78-013
- Engine
- Lycoming VO-435-A1F, 270 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Streeter Flying Service, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Stephen R. Streeter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Hilmar, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 10,025 total · 425 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 92 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N38117 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.