SAN JUAN BAUTIS, CA, USA
N9078T
CONTINENTAL COPTERS MARK 5
WHILE SPRAYING A CORN FIELD THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE CROPS. THE RIGHT SPRAY BOOM STRUCK THE 10-FT HIGH CORN CROPS AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED.
On August 25, 1993, at 0920 hours Pacific daylight time, a Continental Copters Mark 5 Tomcat helicopter, N9078T, crashed near San Juan Bautista, California, while conducting a local visual flight rules aerial application flight. The helicopter, operated by AG Rotors, Inc., Hollister, California, was destroyed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Hollister Airport at 0905 hours. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that while spraying the right spray boom contacted the corn crops which "drug the helicopter down."
the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear the crops. The pilot's diverted attention during the aerial application flight is a factor in this accident.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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