Texas OH-13E/M74 N38096

Summary

On 3 May 2011 at about 23:30 local time, a Texas OH-13E/M74 registered N38096, operated by Hendrickson Flying Service, Inc., was involved in an accident near New Columbia, Illinois, 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

3 May 2011 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

New Columbia, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

37.3408, -88.8150

Aircraft

Texas OH-13E/M74

Registration

N38096

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Hendrickson Flying Service, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Columbia → New Columbia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA317

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the wheat crop during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aerial-application helicopter was operating from an uncultivated area of the wheat field being sprayed. The pilot stated that, shortly after takeoff, while accelerating through translational lift, the helicopter encountered a momentary loss of lift, consistent with an encounter with a wind gust, and settled into the wheat crop. The helicopter pitched down suddenly as the spray booms made contact with the crop and subsequently collided with terrain. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.