# NTSB MIA89LA221: Continental Copters Tomcat MK6C, N9085T, Quitman, MS, August 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1989, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Quitman, MS
- Coordinates: 32.039245, -88.720359 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0392&lon=-88.7204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32479
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA221
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32479/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA221

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE TAIL BOOM ATTACHMENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - failure,total (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE MANEUVERING TO BEGIN SPRAYING OPERATIONS, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RGT, DESCENDED NOSE LOW & COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN.  AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE LOWER TAIL BOOM ATTACHMENT BOLT WAS ELONGATED AND THAT THE ATTACHING BOLT HAD FAILED.  THIS ALLOWED THE TAIL BOOM TO BEND UPWARD UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL ROTOR.  OPERATOR PSNL BELIEVED THE ELONGATED HOLE WAS DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE TAIL BOOM, WHILE BEING TRAILERED TO DIFFERENT SPRAYING LOCATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9085T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9085T-2014-11-26), registration cancelled 2014-11-26, S/N CCI-77-3, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Continental Copters TOMCAT MK6C (TOMCAT MK6)
- Registry model: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK6C](https://openairdocs.org/model/continental-copters-tomcat-mk6c) (registry code 2390204) (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-77-3
- Airframe hours: 3109
- Engines: LYCOMING VO-435-A1F 265 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Ward Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Ward Helicopters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 5, 1989, 30 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 11,800 total, 1,260 in this make and model, 11,500 as pilot in command, 520 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MEI, 18 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 19890814029299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890814029299A), Aug 14, 1989: Tomcat OH13HMK6B, Quitman, MS, Destroyed. Tailboom attach bolt hole elongated from riding on trailer allowed boom to bend up and main rotors struck the boom.

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.