NORMAN PARK, GA, USA
N51850
TEXAS HELICOPTER OH-13/M74
THE PILOT HAD BEEN MAKING AGRICULTURAL AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHTS ALL DAY WITH SOME INTERRUPTIONS FOR RAIN. HE HAD BEEN APPLYING LANNATE AND BRAVO; THE LOAD ABOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SAME. AFTER A LUNCH BREAK, THE PILOT MADE ONE FLIGHT & LOADED FOR THE NEXT. THE LIFTOFF AND DEPARTURE WERE REPORTED TO BE NORMAL, BUT WHEN THE HELICOPTER DID NOT RETURN AS EXPECTED, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. WRECKAGE OF THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND NEAR THE INTENDED AERIAL APPLICATION SITE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF METHOMYL (LANNATE) AT A LEVEL OF 600 PARTS/BILLION. THE PILOT HAD NOT BEEN USING A RESPIRATOR. HIS LAST RPRTD MEDICAL CHECK WAS ON 2/7/89.
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM EXPOSURE TO LANNATE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE GROUND. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE A RESPIRATOR WHILE HANDLING OR BEING EXPOSED TO LANNATE.,
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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