Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A N9086T

Summary

On 14 July 1999 at about 23:30 local time, a Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A registered N9086T, operated by ED W. Buford, was involved in an accident near Camden, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 July 1999 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Camden, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.9897, -87.2894

Aircraft

Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A

Registration

N9086T

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

ED W. Buford

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL99LA107

1 person had minor injuries.

The failure of the cyclic control rod due to an overstress separation resulting from a material defect (inadequate quality of material) by the manufacturer.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had completed a second pass over the field he was spraying when he lost cyclic control of the helicopter. He reduced power and the helicopter impacted the ground, coming to rest on its right side. The helicopter's cyclic control rod was metallurgically examined. One end of the cyclic control rod had separated at the thread relief radius and the failure appeared consistent with an overstress separation. Hardness readings taken during an ultrasonic inspection revealed the tensile strength was below the original rod design strength.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.