# NTSB MIA98LA197: Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M47A, N1001F, Citronelle, AL, July 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 1998, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Citronelle, AL - Coordinates: 31.089664, -88.239517 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0897&lon=-88.2395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43197 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43197/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA197 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to control the helicopter's altitude while overflying an area of rising terrain and trees. ## Analysis As the spray helicopter turned downwind en route to his spray tract, he entered a sinking condition from which application of full power did not prevent colliding with trees situated along a ridgeline. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 1998, about 1800 central daylight time, a Texas Helicopters OH-13H/M-47A, N1001F, registered to Gulf Helicopters, Inc., and operating as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, crashed near the town of Citronelle, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from a truck-mounted helipad about five minutes before the accident. The pilot stated that after flying a short upwind leg to gain altitude from the helipad launch, and executing a 180 degree turn en route to his spray tract, in straight and level flight at 100 feet agl, at about 50 mph, he started sinking. Despite application of full throttle and dumping of his load of 100 gallons of herbicide, the sinking condition continued until collision with the tree tops situated near the top of a ridgeline. The pilot further stated he is convinced the accident was not a result of engine power degradation. He stated that prevailing winds at his location at the time of the accident were 2 to 5 mph from a westerly direction, or a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - rising - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1001F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1001F), registered now, S/N 79033, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M47A (OH-13H/M47) - Registry model: [Texas Helicopter OH-13H/M74A](https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13h-m74a) (registry code 8930105) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435-A1F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-a1f) (registry code 42200, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 79-033 - Airframe hours: 452 - Engines: Lycoming VO 540 B1 305 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Gulf Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 1998, 14 hours before - Departed: CITRONELLE, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 26,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MOB, 28 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 19980715016709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980715016709A), Jul 15, 1998: Bell OH13H, Citronelle, AL, Substantial damage. (.4)As the spray helicopter turned downwind en route to his spray tract, he entered a sinking condition from which application of full power did not prevent… ## Other investigations on N1001F (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 ATL81DKW21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81DKW21), Jul 29, 1981: Texas Hel M-47A (N1001F), Rickman, TN, 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.