TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13E/M74
Santa Maria, CA — September 29, 2013
Event Information
| Date | September 29, 2013 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR13LA429 |
| Event ID | 20130929X51316 |
| Location | Santa Maria, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 34.96722, -120.54444 |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP |
| Model | OH-13E/M74 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 137 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's inadequate monitoring of the environment and failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires during a low-altitude maneuver.
Full Narrative
On September 29, 2013, about 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Texas Helicopter Corp OH-13/M74, N38113, was substantially damaged when it struck power transmission wires and impacted the ground near Santa Maria, California. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. R & S Crop Dusters, Inc., was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight, which had originated from a nearby staging area approximately 10 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed.
The pilot reported that before he began his first application run, he flew overhead scouting the designated field for hazards and noted the power line. On his first pass, he had a "momentary lapse" and flew through the wires. The biggest wire shattered the cabin's main Plexiglass bubble and struck the main rotor mast. Both push-pull flight control tubes were compromised just above the swashplate. The helicopter fell to the ground and came to rest upright on its landing skids.
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.