Texas Helicopter Corp M74L accident near Sebring, FL
On December 6, 2013, a Texas Helicopter Corp M74L (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Sebring, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 6, 2013
- Place
- Sebring, FL
- Aircraft
- Texas Helicopter Corp M74L · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 27.463°N, 81.367°W
- NTSB ID
- 20131206X95526
Official records · ERA14FA066
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 6, 2013, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Texas Helicopter Corporation M74L, N1001N, operated by Spray Copter LLC., was destroyed after impacting the ground during a positioning flight near Sebring, Florida. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed a local farm field about 1615, and was destined for Sebring Regional Airport (SEF), Sebring, Florida. The positioning flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. During the course of the day, the helicopter was conducting aerial application flights in the local area. According to the operator's ground crew manager, about 400 acres had been treated with insecticide, and the purpose of the accident flight was to reposition the helicopter from a farm field to SEF, where the pilot planned to wash the helicopter and change the engine oil. Before departing the farm field, the helicopter was serviced with fuel from a truck, which was also used to transport chemicals used during aerial application flights. A witness observed the helicopter as it approached where he was working, traveling to the southwest. He estimated that the helicopter was flying at an altitude of about 150 feet above the ground.. The helicopter then, "dipped down" to between 50 and 75 feet above the ground, and again leveled. The helicopter then "fell" straight to the ground. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground, and burst into flames. As he was standing near an operating farm tr
Probable cause
A partial loss of engine power as a result of contamination of the engine’s fuel supply, and the pilot’s impaired performance due to his use of diphenhydramine, which resulted in his inability to complete a forced or precautionary autorotative landing successfully.
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Browse: Florida
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
