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NTSB accident investigation · Continental Copters OH13H Tomcat Mark 5A · Indiana, PA · May 10, 1986

Accident · Minor injuriesFinal report

Date: May 10, 1986, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
Place: Indiana, PA
Injuries: 1 minor
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Maneuvering
Aircraft: N41830Continental Copters OH13H Tomcat Mark 5A
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19860510016739A
Case key: 30209

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectManeuvering - aerial application

Object - wire,transmissionFactor

Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - aerial application

Clearance - inadequatePilot in commandCause

In flight collision with objectManeuvering

Object - wire,transmission

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The acft collided with wires during a spray run and crashed out of control. The plt tried to fly under the wires that were sighted too late to clear. During his survey of the field the plt had failed to see the wires that were struck. The collision broke off both main rotor blades. The helicopter tumbled for aprx 216 ft after impact.

Aircraft

Registration: N41830
Reported as: Continental Copters OH13H Tomcat Mark 5A (OH13H TOMC)
Category: Helicopter
Serial number: CC1-73-2
Engine: Lycoming VO-435, 265 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Fire: Unknown
Flight: Aerial application · Part 137
Operator: Hecks Flying Service
Registered owner: Pah, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection: Annual · April 24, 1986

N41830Registration cancelled Oct 9, 2020 · Continental Copters TOMCAT MK6CS/N CCI-73-2 · Built 1973 Airframe modelContinental Copters TOMCAT MK6C Engine modelLycoming VO-435 seriesReciprocating

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 44
Certificate: Commercial
Airplane ratings: Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings: Airplane
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Center
Flight hours: 5,876 total · 2,150 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 0° at 4 knots
Visibility: 20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19860510016739ABell OH13HMK5A · Indiana, PADuring a spraying run, tried to duck under, but struck the powerlines. Impacted the ground when control was lost.May 10, 1986 · N41830 · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N41830 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA19TA213Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3Final reportFranklin, KYThe pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor rpm after takeoff, which resulted in a collision with terrain.Jul 8, 2019 · Substantial damage