Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A accident near Bay Springs, Mississippi, September 18, 1991
On September 18, 1991 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A (helicopter), registered N9010T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bay Springs, Mississippi. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1991 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bay Springs, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A TOMCAT MK5
- Registration
- N9010T · registry record · serial CCI-74-3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING A STEEP TURN ABOUT 60 FT AGL, THE ENG SPUTTERED. HE REDUCED POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING BUT THE ENG QUIT SHORTLY THEREAFTER. DURING THE AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT, THE MAIN ROTOR (M R) BLADES CONTACTED TREES. AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE GROUND, THE M R BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. THE PLT WAS OBSERVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT TO LOOK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE HELICOPTER WAS MOVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT WITHOUT NTSB OR FAA PERMISSION; THEREFORE, FUEL QUANTITY COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE HELICOPTER WAS LOCATED AND EXAM OF THE ENG AND ITS COMPONENTS REVEALED CONTAMINANTS IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THE ENG WAS STARTED AND FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENG 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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,658 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 1,658 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gulf Helicopter, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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 N9010T 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.