Continental Copters MK6B accident near Middleboro, Massachusetts, May 14, 1992
On May 14, 1992 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Continental Copters MK6B (helicopter), registered N9012T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middleboro, Massachusetts. It was a positioning flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RELEASE A TIE DOWN STRAP FROM THE HELICOPTER'S SKID DURING THE PREFLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1992 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Middleboro, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Continental Copters MK6B
- Registration
- N9012T · registry record · serial CCI 74-4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND OPERATOR DID A WALK AROUND PREFLIGHT OF THE HELICOPTER WHILE IT WAS SECURED TO A FLATBED TRAILER. THE PILOT RELEASED THE LEFT TIE DOWN STRAP ON THE LEFT SKID, BOARDED, AND STARTED THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO HOVER-TAXI OFF THE FLATBED TRAILER. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AND CRASHED INTO THE GROUND BESIDE THE TRAILER. THE HELICOPTER'S BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND AND A VEHICLE WHICH WAS PARKED 30-50 FEET AWAY. AFTER EXITING THE HELICOPTER, THE PILOT NOTED THE RIGHT REAR SKID TIE DOWN WAS STILL LOCKED OVER THE SKID AND ATTACHED TO THE TRAILER.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,229 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 1991; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Firefly Leasing INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.