# NTSB MKC81DCJ23: Texas Hel OH-13, N68040, Kearney, NE, August 1, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 1, 1981
- Place: Kearney, NE · KEARNEY, NE
- Location: 40.7017° N, 99.0823° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kearney, NE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7017&lon=-99.0823&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125068
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC81DCJ23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81DCJ23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1724   81/8/1  NR.KEARNEY,NE         TEXAS HEL OH-13     CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 1727
        TIME - 0745                    N68040              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 426 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         KEARNEY,NE                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: OTHER
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT: SPRAY,DUSTING EQUIPMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  127                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - AFT OF PILOT                      TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  2150                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- UNAUTH MOD TO SPRAY BOOM FAILED,CHEMICAL OBSCD WNDSHLD.ABORTED FLT.NRLY HIT PWR LN,LNDG,LOAD SITE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N68040 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: TEXAS HEL OH-13
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810801047259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810801047259A), Aug 1, 1981: Bell OH13M74TEXH, Kearney, NE, Destroyed. Ag helicopter hit wire and crashed, returning for landing because of malfunction of spraying equipment.

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.