Bell TH-13T N99628

Summary

On 18 July 2002 at about 12:16 local time, a Bell TH-13T registered N99628 was involved in an accident near New Iberia, 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.

Date

18 July 2002 at 12:16

Classification

Accident

Location

New Iberia, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

30.0661, -91.7972

Aircraft

Bell TH-13T

Registration

N99628

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Iberia → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA216

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. High vegetation was a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After the pilot had finished spraying his load and was en route to the loading facility, he noticed that he had 15 gallons of fuel remaining. Approximately 1 minute later the helicopter experienced a complete loss of engine power. Subsequently, an autorotation was initiated over a sugar cane field. Prior to contacting the high vegatation, the pilot flared by adding full aft cyclic and up collective, resulting in the main rotor blades striking and severing the tail boom, the tail rotor separating, and the helicopter coming to rest in a upright position. There was no post-impact fire. The cause of the loss of power was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.