# NTSB LAX94LA342: Texas Helicopter M74, N51852, Salinas, CA, August 31, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1994, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Salinas, CA - Coordinates: 36.669586, -121.609191 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6696&lon=-121.6092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28844 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28844/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA342 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and in-flight fuel consumption monitoring. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED THE COMPANY BASE AND WENT TO A FIELD NEAR SALINAS WHERE HE SPRAYED THE CROPS WITH CHEMICALS FOR 1 1/2 HOURS. THE PILOT SAID HE 'RAN OUT OF GAS' WHILE PROCEEDING TO A NEARBY COMPANY TRUCK FOR ANOTHER LOAD OF CHEMICALS AND FUEL. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1994, at 0730 Pacific daylight time, a Texas Helicopters M74, N51852, sustained damage during a hard landing from an autorotation after an engine failure near Salinas, California. The helicopter was owned and operated by Gomes Farm Air Service, Inc., of Castroville, California, and was engaged in aerial application operations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Castroville, California, on the morning of the accident at 0600. According to the pilot's verbal statement to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors from the San Jose, California, Flight Standards District Office, he departed the company base and went to a field near Salinas where he sprayed the crops with chemicals. The pilot said he "ran out of gas" while proceeding to a nearby company truck for another load of chemicals and fuel. The helicopter landed hard and the main rotor severed the tail boom. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51852](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51852), registered now, S/N 78-020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Texas Helicopter M74 - Registry model: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74](https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13e-m74) (registry code 8930103) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 78-020 - Engines: LYCOMING O-435 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Gomes Farm Air Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Gomes Farm Air Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: 54Q, CASTROVILLE, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,120 total, 1,520 in this make and model, 1,750 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SNS, 8 nm away ## 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 19940831024459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940831024459A), Aug 31, 1994: Bell OH13EM74, Salinas, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel returning to fuel truck after spray assignment. Severed tailboom on hard forced landing. ## Other investigations on N51852 (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 LAX03CA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA250), Jul 30, 2003: Texas Helicopter OH-13E-M74 (N51852), Tulare, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the wires due to an inadequate visual lookout. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.