Texas Helicopter OH-13/M74 accident near Norman Park, Georgia, August 2, 1989
On August 2, 1989 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Texas Helicopter OH-13/M74, registered N51850, was destroyed in an accident near Norman Park, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1989 · about 7:20 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Norman Park, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Texas Helicopter OH-13/M74
- Registration
- N51850 · registry record · serial 78018
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,607 hours in all; 1,607 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 1,550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,473 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1989; 249 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 325° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N51850 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F 15 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Georgia 2,138 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Georgia 8,806 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL89FA193.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.