Bell TH-13T N96161
30 June 1996 · Mandan, North Dakota, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 30 June 1996 at about 18:20 local time, a Bell TH-13T registered N96161 was involved in an accident near Mandan, North Dakota, 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 18:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mandan, North Dakota, United States
- Coordinates
- 46.8204, -100.8801
- Aircraft
- Bell TH-13T
- Registration
- N96161
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dawn
- NTSB number
- CHI96LA223
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from known transmission lines. A factor relating to this accident was the sunglare which hindered the pilot's ability to see the transmission lines.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was spot spraying pasture land with pesticide. He turned into the sun heading east to follow a ravine. The pilot stated the sun was glaring off the bubble and he was unable to see the power lines until he was too close. When the pilot did see the power lines he 'pulled back and to the left to avoid them.' The helicopter's lower outside cabin struck the power lines and the helicopter settled to the ground tail first.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell TH-13T accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr 1997 | Bell TH-13T | Capitan, New Mexico, United States | U.s Department of Agriculture | No injuries | - |
| 2 Sep 1992 | Bell TH-13T | Lake Wales, Florida, United States | Polk Co. Environmental SER. | Unknown | - |
| 18 Jul 2002 | Bell TH-13T | New Iberia, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1990 | Bell TH-13T | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Aug 2003 | Bell TH-13T | Light, Arkansas, United States | Songer, Harvey | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1989 | Bell TH-13T | Jay, Florida, United States | Stewart, Michael | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jun 1996 | Cessna A188B | Watford City, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1996 | Beechcraft BE-35 | Minot, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Sep 1996 | Champion 7ECA | Fargo, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jan 1996 | Cessna 172N | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States | B & B Partnership | No injuries | - |
| 3 Oct 1996 | Cessna 185 | Finley, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Dec 1996 | Cessna 177 | Regan, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |