Texas OH-13E-M74 N51852

Summary

On 30 July 2003 at about 14:20 local time, a Texas OH-13E-M74 registered N51852 was involved in an accident near Tulare, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 July 2003 at 14:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Tulare, California, United States

Coordinates

36.2833, -119.6000

Aircraft

Texas OH-13E-M74

Registration

N51852

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tulare → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03CA250

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the wires due to an inadequate visual lookout.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter collided with power lines during an aerial application. The pilot was on his nineteenth pass over the field, traveling eastbound. Power lines were located on the east and west side of the road. There was a pole about 75 feet tall, and the top 6 feet contained three wires. The top wire, a black colored insulator wire, was located 3 feet from the top of the pole. The pilot located the outbox on the pole and determined he would fly above the box to clear all of the wires. As he flew over the lines, the helicopter impacted the insulator wire about 1/2 foot above the cockpit floor. The helicopter slid along the wire and then the wire broke from the insulator at the next pole. The poles were placed about 300 feet apart. As the helicopter impacted the ground, the left skid hit first, followed by the main rotor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.