Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA89LA221

QUITMAN, MS, USA

Aircraft #1

N9085T

Continental Copters TOMCAT MK6C

Analysis

WHILE MANEUVERING TO BEGIN SPRAYING OPERATIONS, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RGT, DESCENDED NOSE LOW & COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. AN EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE LOWER TAIL BOOM ATTACHMENT BOLT WAS ELONGATED AND THAT THE ATTACHING BOLT HAD FAILED. THIS ALLOWED THE TAIL BOOM TO BEND UPWARD UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL ROTOR. OPERATOR PSNL BELIEVED THE ELONGATED HOLE WAS DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE TAIL BOOM, WHILE BEING TRAILERED TO DIFFERENT SPRAYING LOCATIONS.

Probable Cause and Findings

FAILURE OF THE TAIL BOOM ATTACHMENT.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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