Texas Helicopter M74A accident near Daggett, California, October 19, 1985
On October 19, 1985 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Texas Helicopter M74A, registered N51862, was substantially damaged in an accident near Daggett, 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1985 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Daggett, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Texas Helicopter M74A
- Registration
- N51862 · no longer on the register · serial 79-02B
- 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 PLT STATED HE HAD JUST LIFTED OFF FOR A FERTILIZER SPREADING OPERATION WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD BUCKET, WHEN THE ENG HAD A PARTIAL PWR LOSS AT 100 FT AGL. A DESCENT WAS STARTED AND THE BUCKET WAS DISENGAGED. HOWEVER, WHILE THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND THE HELICOPTER, THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND, FOLLOWED BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. WHEN THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST, IT WAS LAYING ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED TE MOVABLE BREAKER OF THE LEFT MAGNETO BREAKER POINT ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND BROKEN OFF AND LAYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE MAGNETO HOUSING.
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: 9,013 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,069 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 29, 1985; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 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
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N51862 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.