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NTSB investigations: Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A

33 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

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19752026

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Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2390101')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2390101'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2390101'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB CEN18LA300Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Le Sueur, MNThe pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight fuel planning, during which he did not visually check the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks and instead relied on the fuel gauges that were showing erroneous fuel quantity indications, which resulted in fuel…Jul 27, 2018 · N9005T · Substantial damage NTSB GAA15CA122Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Elk Mound, WIThe pilot's failure to maintain a positive rate of climb after taking off from the service truck, which resulted in the helicopter impacting terrain.Jun 14, 2015 · N9045T · Substantial damage NTSB CEN14CA391Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Osage, MNThe total loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel, which resulted in the pilot's forced landing and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the helicopter without resolving the fuel…Jul 25, 2014 · N161SH · Substantial damage NTSB CEN13LA537Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Arlington, MNThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while maneuvering when he removed his hand from the collective control while plugging in his radio connection to his helmet, which resulted in the collective moving to the full-down position.Sep 6, 2013 · N9005T · Substantial damage NTSB ATL99FA132Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Heflin, ALThe pilot of N9010T's failure to maintain visual lookout while maneuvering, resulting in a midair collision with N30899. A factor was the sun glare.Sep 16, 1999 · N9010T · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB ATL99LA107Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Camden, ALThe failure of the cyclic control rod due to an overstress separation resulting from a material defect (inadequate quality of material) by the manufacturer.Jul 14, 1999 · N9086T · Substantial damage NTSB CHI97LA306Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell 47 · Pipestone, MNthe fracture of the pitch control rod assembly.Sep 30, 1997 · N9005T · Substantial damage NTSB MIA97LA212Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters MK5A · Sylacauga, ALThe failure of the pilot to maintain main rotor rpm resulting in the helicopter descending and colliding with trees.Jul 24, 1997 · N62108 · Substantial damage NTSB CHI94T#A02Accident · No injuriesClass 3Final reportContinental Copters MK 5 Tomcat · Minot, NDJul 5, 1994 · N9043T · Substantial damage NTSB LAX94LA199Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Brawley, CAFailure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude, while maneuvering to land after completing aerial application. Factors related to the accident were: darkness and the lack of visual cues for the pilot to detect the obstruction (power line).Apr 22, 1994 · N9061T · Destroyed NTSB DEN93LA091Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Duson, LAFailure of the transmission mast bearing, resulting in oil contamination and subsequent blockage of the internal oil ports and passages. Factors were: total loss of collective control and partial loss of cyclic control.Jul 30, 1993 · N9014T · Substantial damage NTSB ATL91LA180Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters MK5A · Franklin, GAAn undetermined failure of the tail rotor control cable, which resulted in an uncontrolled collision with the ground.Sep 26, 1991 · N62108 · Substantial damage NTSB MIA91LA220Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Bay Springs, MSTotal loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing.Sep 18, 1991 · N9010T · Substantial damage NTSB NYC90DGM03Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportContinental Copters MK5A · Cranesville, PAThe pilot's inability to maintain control of the helicopter after the loss of a portion of the cyclic control assembly; this resulted in ground impact and post-impact fire.Sep 28, 1990 · N9024T · Destroyed NTSB LAX89DVM01Accident · No injuriesFinal reportContinental Copters OH13H · Castroville, CADuring aerial application by helicopter, engine power was lost. Plt maneuvered to avoid power lines during autorotation, resulting in hard lndg. Investigation revealed failure of accessory drive to magnetos.Oct 16, 1988 · N9092T · Substantial damage NTSB MIA88LA250Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters MK-5A · Valley Park, MSThe pilot stated that he thought he had 8 gallons of fuel prior to takeoff. The engine failed about 100 ft AGL and he attempted to stretch the glide of the helicopter by using collective pitch. The aircraft hit hard and rolled over. Only 1 quart of fuel was…Aug 10, 1988 · N9086T · Substantial damage NTSB MIA86LA228Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat MK5A · Indiantown, FLThe 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…Aug 5, 1986 · N9086T · Substantial damage NTSB DEN85LA144Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat Mark 5A/OH13H · Freeman, SDThe plt said he had completed 4 to 5 swath runs (crop spraying mission). During a turning manuever with a left quatering tail wind, full left pedal,full pwr,the helicopter had a high sink rate until grd impact.May 29, 1985 · N9081T · Substantial damage NTSB LAX84LA041Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportContinental Copters Tomcat Mark 5A · Castroville, CAThe helicopter landed hard during a forced landing after a power loss. The accident occurred on the last swath run. When the engine stopped the acft was 6 ft AGL. The pilot reported that the engine stopped from fuel starvation. On recommendation for…Nov 2, 1983 · N9092T · Substantial damage NTSB NYC82DA124Accident · No injuriesFinal reportContinental EL Tomcat MK5A · Imlaystown, NJDuring a swath run, a bird flew into the windshield and the pilot rolled the helicopter to the right to avoid further bird strikes. The right spray boom contacted the crops and pulled the aircraft into the ground resulting in substantial damage.Jun 15, 1982 · N9062T · Substantial damage NTSB ATL80FKQ16Accident · Minor injuriesClosedTomcat Mark 5 · Tutwiler, MSJul 13, 1980 · N9099T · Substantial damage NTSB CHI80DEG15Accident · No injuriesClosedTomcat MK5A · Sinking Sp, OHMay 27, 1980 · N9096T · Substantial damage NTSB MIA79DKQ15Accident · No injuriesClosedTomcat MK-5A · Lambert, MSJul 10, 1979 · N9099T · Substantial damage NTSB SEA79DYP20Accident · No injuriesClosedEL Tomcat MK5A · Moses Lake, WAMay 15, 1979 · N9044T · Destroyed NTSB CHI77FEX46Accident · No injuriesClosedTomcat MK5A · Monrovia, INSep 1, 1977 · N9010T · Substantial damage NTSB CHI77DEV41Accident · No injuriesClosedContinental 5A · Warrensburg, ILAug 10, 1977 · N9081T · Substantial damage NTSB MIA77FKG51Accident · Minor injuriesClosedEL Tomcat MK5A · Colquitt, GAJul 12, 1977 · N9014T · Destroyed NTSB CHI77FEX23Accident · No injuriesClosedBell MK5A · Russiaville, INMay 6, 1977 · N9010T · Destroyed NTSB LAX77DVA02Accident · No injuriesClosedEL Tomcat MK5A · Wasco, CAOct 4, 1976 · N9001T · Substantial damage NTSB CHI76FEC47Accident · Minor injuriesClosedEL Tomcat MK-5A · Blissfield, MIJun 16, 1976 · N9043T · Destroyed NTSB OAK75FVG79Accident · 1 fatalClosedTomcat MK 5A · Gridley, CAJun 25, 1975 · N9001T · Destroyed NTSB FTW75DPG70Accident · No injuriesClosedTomcat MK-5 · Corning, ARMay 26, 1975 · N4924C · Substantial damage NTSB OAK75FJA10Accident · Minor injuriesClosedTomcat MK-5 · Ewa, HIMay 9, 1975 · N9014T · Substantial damage