# NTSB MIA66A0008: Bell Tomcat, N73871, Skene, MS, July 12, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 12, 1965
- Place: Skene, MS · SKENE, MS
- Location: 33.7040° N, 90.7974° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Skene, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7040&lon=-90.7974&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 28, 1966
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 177346
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA66A0008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66A0008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0912  65/7/12  NR.SKENE MISS         BELL TOMCAT         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 3650
        TIME - 2000                    N73871              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 650 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS                                            IN FLIGHT: STARTING SWATH RUN
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: FLAREOUT FOR SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: CYCLIC PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS - FOREIGN MATERIAL AFFECTING NORMAL OPERATIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OBSTRUCTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  LATERAL CONTROL PROBLEM
                                  PITCH CONTROL PROBLEM
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2500                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - RICE                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  135                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CYCLIC CNTROL DMPRS CLOGGED-O RING SEAL PARTCLES CAUSING SEVERE CYCLIC FEED BACK AND PLT DISTRACT
@
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73871](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73871-2013-05-07), registration cancelled 2013-05-07, S/N CC1-163, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL TOMCAT
- Registry model: [Bell-Continental Copters 47G-ELTOMCAT MKII](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-continental-copters-47g-eltomcat-mkii) (registry code 1181062) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4200-series) (registry code 27027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N73871 (5)

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 ATL90DKG02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90DKG02), Nov 6, 1989: Bell 47G/Tomcat MK5 (N73871), Elberton, GA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.
- [NTSB ATL82DLG12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DLG12), Jul 2, 1982: Bell-Cont 42G EL TOMCAT-MK5A (N73871), Oswego, SC, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA76FLG07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76FLG07), Aug 12, 1975: Bell 47G (N73871), Pinewood, SC, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA72FLG05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72FLG05), Aug 2, 1971: Bell 47G (N73871), Sumter, SC, destroyed
- [NTSB UNK64X1530](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1530), Apr 30, 1964: Cont Copter 47G (N73871), Windsor, MO, 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.

---
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.
