On August 6, 2003, a Texas Helicopter OH-13E (registration N38096) operated by Hendrickson Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Byron, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff, which resulted in an impact with terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter conducting aerial application operations failed to climb after takeoff and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
What happened
The helicopter was engaged in an aerial application mission when the incident occurred. The aircraft had just been loaded with chemical agents for spraying operations. Upon initiating takeoff, the helicopter was unable to achieve a positive rate of climb. Consequently, it descended directly into the ground shortly after leaving the surface. The impact caused the aircraft to roll onto its side.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the aircraft for mechanical issues or other anomalies. A significant finding was that the main rotor blades were contaminated with insect remains. Despite this contamination, no other mechanical anomalies or defects were identified during the examination of the helicopter.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during takeoff, which resulted in an impact with terrain.