N51857

Substantial
None

TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13H/M74AS/N: 78-024

Accident Details

Date
Monday, August 1, 2011
NTSB Number
CEN11CA535
Location
Joice, IA
Event ID
20110801X62048
Coordinates
43.363334, -93.455833
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wire.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N51857
Make
TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP
Serial Number
78-024
Year Built
1942
Model / ICAO
OH-13H/M74A

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
UNITED STATES MILITARY
Address
UNKNOWN
Status
Deregistered
City
WASHINGTON
State / Zip Code
DC 20001
Country
United States

Analysis

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.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN11CA535