Quinn Aviation Inc. E L Tom Cat MK-5A accident near Galt, California, March 15, 2004
On March 15, 2004 at about 2:00 am local time, a Quinn Aviation Inc. E L Tom Cat MK-5A (helicopter), registered N8429, was substantially damaged in an accident near Galt, California. 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
a loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 2004 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Galt, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quinn Aviation Inc. E L Tom Cat MK-5A
- Registration
- N8429 · no longer on the register · serial 100A
- 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 helicopter lost engine power during cruise flight at 100 feet above ground level, and the pilot made a hard forced landing. Post accident inspections revealed no power plant abnormalities. Water was found in the fuel tank and a small amount was found in the bottom of the fuel screen. No other airframe or engine discrepancies were found that could explain a loss of power.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,020 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 24,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,294 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 2003; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming V0435 A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sierra Helicopter Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: Galt CA at 1:50 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 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.
Other NTSB records under N8429 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.