# NTSB MIA86LA228: Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A, N9086T, Indiantown, FL, August 5, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1986, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Indiantown, FL
- Location: 27.0400° N, 80.4882° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Indiantown, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0400&lon=-80.4882&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31687
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86LA228
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31687/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA228

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel supply - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE AERIAL APPLICATION HELICOPTER CRASHED JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF AFTER SUSTAINING A POWER FAILURE, THE PLT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN FUEL STARVATION SINCE HE HAD OBSERVED SOME FOREIGN MATTER IN THE FUEL WHEN HE DRAINED THE SUMP DURING THE PREFLT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT. A POST ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL ODOR OR FUEL SPILL IN OR AROUND THE CRASH SITE. ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR. THERE WAS NO FUEL PRESENT IN THE TANK ALTHOUGH THE FUEL TANK WAS ON ITS SIDE AND THE CAP WAS MISSING FROM THE TANK. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY WATER OR FOREIGN MATTER WAS DETECTED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FLT WAS OPERATING CONTRA TO FAR PART 137, IN THAT THE OPERATOR DID NOT HAVE A FAA CERTIFICATE FOR AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9086T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9086T-2013-05-17), registration cancelled 2013-05-17, S/N CCI-78-1, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONTINENTAL COPTERS TOMCAT MK5A (TOMCAT MK5)
- Registry model: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/continental-copters-tomcat-mk5a) (registry code 2390101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: CCI-78-1
- Airframe hours: 1953
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 91
- Operator: Glades Ground Spraying,Inc.
- Registered owner: Tri-State Helicopter, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 25, 1986, 53 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 4,927 total, 4,195 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI, 38 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 19860805037749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860805037749A), Aug 5, 1986: Bell OH13HMK5A, Indiantown, FL, Substantial damage. Engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. Pilot was operating helicopter to spray crops without 137 certificate.

## Other investigations on N9086T (2)

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 ATL99LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA107), Jul 14, 1999: Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A (N9086T), Camden, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the cyclic control rod due to an overstress separation resulting from a material defect (inadequate quality of material) by the manufacturer.
- [NTSB MIA88LA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA250), Aug 10, 1988: Continental Copters MK-5A (N9086T), Valley Park, MS, 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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