Continental Copters MK 5A TOMCAT accident near Constantine, Michigan, July 27, 1990
On July 27, 1990 at about 12:08 pm local time, a Continental Copters MK 5A TOMCAT (helicopter), registered N1442Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Constantine, Michigan. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID POWER LINES IN HIS AREA OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1990 · about 12:08 pm local time
- Place
- Constantine, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Continental Copters MK 5A TOMCAT MK 5A TOMC
- Registration
- N1442Z · no longer on the register · serial H176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FIRST PASS, WEST TO EAST, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES RUNNING NE TO SW ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE FIELD. IT THEN CONTINUED APPROX. 180 FT AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER SET OF POWER LINES. A WITNESS INDICATED THE PILOT HAD MADE A SURVEY PASS OF THE FIELD. VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED AS 4 MI IN HAZE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,864 hours in all; 1,273 in this make and model; 122 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 1,714 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,712 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 1989; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1FHC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:47 am from AZO, 32 miles away
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.