# NTSB LAX89DVM01: Continental Copters OH13H, N9092T, Castroville, CA, October 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1988, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Castroville, CA
- Coordinates: 36.759971, -121.749031 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7600&lon=-121.7490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26173
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89DVM01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26173/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DVM01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application
  - accessory drive assy,drive gear - disintegrated (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command

## Analysis

DURING AERIAL APPLICATION BY HELICOPTER, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. PLT MANEUVERED TO AVOID POWER LINES DURING AUTOROTATION, RESULTING IN HARD LNDG. INVESTIGATION REVEALED FAILURE OF ACCESSORY DRIVE TO MAGNETOS.

## 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 OH13H
- 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: 3716
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-A1D 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Gomes, Frank, doing business as Gomes Farm Air Service
- Registered owner: Gomes Farm Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1988, 81 hours before
- Departed: CASTROVILLE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19881016057069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881016057069A), Oct 16, 1988: Bell OH13HMK5A, Castroville, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power. Rotors chopped tail boom on landing. Thrust washer came off unused generator shaft. Caught in gears.

## 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 LAX84LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA041), Nov 2, 1983: Continental Copters Tomcat Mark 5A (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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