Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s failure to assess and compensate for the landing surface, which included high grass and loose dirt.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On October 23, 2013, about 0830 central daylight time, a Bell OH-58C, N911CC, impacted terrain during a hard landing on a field near Omaha, Texas. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and main rotor blade(s). The commercial pilot was uninjured. The helicopter was registered to an individual and operated by Reynolds Aviation under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Winnsboro, Texas, at 0700 and was destined for Omaha, Texas.
The pilot stated that he was approaching to land with a load of chemical when the left skid dug into high grass and loose dirt. The helicopter spun around, and the main rotor contacted the tail boom.
The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the helicopter.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN14LA022