Continental Copters OH13H TOMCAT MARK 5A accident near Indiana, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1986
On May 10, 1986 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Continental Copters OH13H TOMCAT MARK 5A (helicopter), registered N41830, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indiana, Pennsylvania. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 10, 1986 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Indiana, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Continental Copters OH13H TOMCAT MARK 5A OH13H TOMC
- Registration
- N41830 · no longer on the register · serial CC1-73-2
- 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 ACFT COLLIDED WITH WIRES DURING A SPRAY RUN AND CRASHED OUT OF CONTROL. THE PLT TRIED TO FLY UNDER THE WIRES THAT WERE SIGHTED TOO LATE TO CLEAR. DURING HIS SURVEY OF THE FIELD THE PLT HAD FAILED TO SEE THE WIRES THAT WERE STRUCK. THE COLLISION BROKE OFF BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE HELICOPTER TUMBLED FOR APRX 216 FT AFTER IMPACT.
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: 5,876 hours in all; 2,150 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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 N41830 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.