LOS BANOS, CA, USA
N38110
Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74L
WHILE APPLYING HERBICIDE ON A COTTON FIELD UTILIZING A HELICOPTER EQUIPPED WITH A RECIPROCATING ENGINE AND CARBURETOR, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR, MAIN ROTOR BLADES, AND TAIL BOOM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.
On December 28, 1993, about 1200 hours Pacific standard time, a Texas Helicopters OH-13E/M74L, N38110, crashed while maneuvering about 3 miles southeast of Los Banos, California. The helicopter was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area aerial application flight under Title 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred. The helicopter, operated by Bernard Gach, Merced, California, received substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from a field near the accident. The pilot reported that he was applying "Roundup" herbicide to a cotton field when the engine suddenly quit. The pilot indicated that the loss of engine power was due to carburetor ice. He made an emergency autorotation to the field and landed hard, damaging the landing gear, main rotors, and tail boom.
A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO UTILIZE CARBURETOR HEAT. THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WERE A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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