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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 2, 1989 · Texas Helicopter OH-13/M74 · N51850

Norman Park, GA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 2, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Norman Park, GA
Aircraft
Texas Helicopter OH-13/M74
Tail Number
N51850
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL89FA193

THE PILOT HAD BEEN MAKING AGRICULTURAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHTS ALL DAY WITH SOME INTERRUPTIONS FOR RAIN. HE HAD BEEN APPLYING LANNATE AND BRAVO; THE LOAD ABOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SAME. AFTER A LUNCH BREAK, THE PILOT MADE ONE FLIGHT & LOADED FOR THE NEXT. THE LIFTOFF AND DEPARTURE WERE REPORTED TO BE NORMAL, BUT WHEN THE HELICOPTER DID NOT RETURN AS EXPECTED, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. WRECKAGE OF THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND NEAR THE INTENDED AERIAL APPLICATION SITE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF METHOMYL (LANNATE) AT A LEVEL OF 600 PARTS/BILLION. THE PILOT HAD NOT BEEN USING A RESPIRATOR. HIS LAST RPRTD MEDICAL CHECK WAS ON 2/7/89.

NTSB Probable Cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM EXPOSURE TO LANNATE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE GROUND. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE A RESPIRATOR WHILE HANDLING OR BEING EXPOSED TO LANNATE.,

Full Narrative

THE PILOT HAD BEEN MAKING AGRICULTURAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHTS ALL DAY WITH SOME INTERRUPTIONS FOR RAIN. HE HAD BEEN APPLYING LANNATE AND BRAVO; THE LOAD ABOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SAME. AFTER A LUNCH BREAK, THE PILOT MADE ONE FLIGHT & LOADED FOR THE NEXT. THE LIFTOFF AND DEPARTURE WERE REPORTED TO BE NORMAL, BUT WHEN THE HELICOPTER DID NOT RETURN AS EXPECTED, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. WRECKAGE OF THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND NEAR THE INTENDED AERIAL APPLICATION SITE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF METHOMYL (LANNATE) AT A LEVEL OF 600 PARTS/BILLION. THE PILOT HAD NOT BEEN USING A RESPIRATOR. HIS LAST RPRTD MEDICAL CHECK WAS ON 2/7/89.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:20 EDT
Nearest Airport1nm NNW
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftTexas Helicopter OH-13/M74
Tail NumberN51850
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · VO-435-A1F · Reciprocating · 270
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 30 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind325° @ 8 kt, gusting 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data