Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A N9014T
30 July 1993 · Duson, Louisiana, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 30 July 1993 at about 14:30 local time, a Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A registered N9014T, operated by Penn-Tex Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Duson, Louisiana, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 14:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Duson, Louisiana, United States
- Coordinates
- 30.2292, -92.1901
- Aircraft
- Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A
- Registration
- N9014T
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Penn-Tex Helicopters, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN93LA091
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
FAILURE 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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE ENGAGED IN AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE PILOT HEARD BANGING NOISES AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERSPEED. ALTHOUGH COLLECTIVE CONTROL WAS INEFFECTIVE, THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE HELICOPTER TO A HARD LANDING USING THROTTLE AND PARTIAL CYCLIC CONTROL. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE TRANSMISSION MAST BEARING HAD FAILED, CONTAMINATING THE OIL WITH STEEL PARTICLES THAT OBSTRUCTED THE INTERNAL OIL PASSAGES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Continental Copters TOMCAT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1992 | Continental Copters TOMCAT MK6B | Punta Gorda, Florida, United States | Charlotte County Mosquito Ctrl | Unknown | - |
| 22 Apr 1994 | Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A | Brawley, California, United States | Stephen R. Streeter | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 Jun 1995 | Continental Copters TOMCAT MK 6C | Arcadia, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Sep 1991 | Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A | Bay Springs, Mississippi, United States | Gulf Helicopter, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 14 Aug 1989 | Continental Copters TOMCAT MK6C | Quitman, Mississippi, United States | Ward Helicopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Jul 1988 | Continental Copters TOMCAT MK-6 | Straughn, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1993 | Grumman G-164B | Indian Village, Louisiana, United States | O'brien Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 3 Dec 1993 | Bell 412 | Cameron, Louisiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1993 | Luscombe 8E | Abbeville, Louisiana, United States | Lerille, Mark | No injuries | - |
| 9 Apr 1993 | Cessna 150J | Waterproof, Louisiana, United States | Johns, Jerry L. | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 1993 | Grumman G-164B | Ville Platte, Louisiana, United States | Young, Aaron | No injuries | - |
| 12 May 1993 | Grumman G-164B | Arnaudville, Louisiana, United States | Bonnin, Eddie J. | No injuries | - |