Continental Copters MK5A N62108

Summary

On 26 September 1991 at about 11:00 local time, a Continental Copters MK5A registered N62108, operated by Gulf Helicopter, was involved in an accident near Franklin, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 September 1991 at 11:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Franklin, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

33.2769, -85.1015

Aircraft

Continental Copters MK5A

Registration

N62108

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Gulf Helicopter

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL91LA180

Nobody was injured.

AN UNDETERMINED FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL CABLE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLED COLLISION WITH THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED THE FIRST SPRAYING OF THE MORNING AND WAS HOVERING TO THE LOADING AREA WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER AWAY FROM THE LOADING AREA AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. HOWEVER, AS THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE HELICOPTER, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT TAIL ROTOR CONTROL CABLE HAD FAILED NEAR THE PEDAL ATTACH POINT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE FIELD CABLE WAS MAILED TO THE NTSB FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION; THE CABLE NEVER ARRIVED. FAILURE MODE WAS NOT DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.