N51857 – TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13H/M74A – 2011-08-01 NTSB Accident Report

On August 01, 2011, a Texas Helicopter Corp OH-13H/M74A (N51857) was involved in an incident near Joice, IA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wire.

The pilot reported that he was paralleling a highway as he was applying chemical to a cornfield. He gained altitude to clear a homestead and then descended into the field to continue spraying once he cleared the homestead property. He reported that the helicopter impacted an unmarked wire that was strung diagonally between the road he was paralleling and the corner of the homestead property. The helicopter impacted the field and the main rotor blades separated from the airframe, causing the helicopter to cartwheel prior coming to a stop. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the helicopter prior to the wire strike.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA535. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N51857.