Texas Helicopter CORP OH-13E/M74 accident near Champaign, Illinois, July 24, 2013
On July 24, 2013 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Texas Helicopter CORP OH-13E/M74, registered N176MR, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Champaign, Illinois. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) 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 maintain control of the helicopter during an aerial application maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2013 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Champaign, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Texas Helicopter CORP OH-13E/M74 · all OH-13E/M74s on the register
- Registration
- N176MR · no longer on the register · serial 76001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the helicopter reported that he was completing a turn to re-enter a field for an aerial application pass when he heard a loud "pop" and felt a vibration and noted with a decay in rotor speed. He applied aft cyclic and reduced the collective, initiating an autorotation. He stated that the helicopter rolled to the left and that he applied right cyclic with no response. He was able to raise the nose of the helicopter before impacting corn in a 15-degree left bank. The helicopter came to rest 120 degrees from the direction of flight with the engine running. A postaccident examination of the helicopter and a metallurgical examination of the fractured main rotor system components did not reveal any failure or malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of control as described by the pilot.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: powered-lift; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,902 hours in all; 2,202 in this make and model; 228 in the last 90 days; 10,788 as pilot in command; 6,961 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 29, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Reynolds Aerial Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Champaign IL
- Destination: Champaign IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from CMI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.