Texas OH-13H/M N51856

Summary

On 6 July 1986 at about 15:20 local time, a Texas OH-13H/M registered N51856 was involved in an accident near Valencia, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

6 July 1986 at 15:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Valencia, California, United States

Nearest airport

Van Nuys (VNY)

Coordinates

34.4096, -118.5590

Aircraft

Texas OH-13H/M

Registration

N51856

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Valencia → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX86LA283

1 person was seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE/MAIN TRANSMISSION AREA WHILE ON A SWATH RUN. HE STATED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR RPM DECAYED IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE HEARD THE NOISE. AS THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED TO ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE PILOT SAID HE FLARED FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD SEVERING THE SKIDS, TAIL AND SPRAY BOOMS. THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER, THE ROTOR WAS NOT TURNING. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION REVEALED A MASSIVE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE LOWER PINION GEAR ASSEMBLY. BOGUS PINION GEARS WERE FOUND INSTALLED IN THE TRANSMISSION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.