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2013 M74L Aerial Application Accident Near Sebring, Florida (N1001N)

Sebring, FL, United States

On December 6, 2013, a TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP M74L (registration N1001N) operated by Spray Copter, LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Sebring, FL. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A partial loss of engine power as a result of contamination of the engine’s fuel supply, and the pilot’s impaired performance due to his use of diphenhydramine, which resulted in his inability to complete a forced or precautionary autorotative landing… This summary draws on records from NTSB; 10 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A Texas Helicopter Corporation M74L, N1001N, crashed near Sebring, Florida, on December 6, 2013, killing the pilot. The helicopter was destroyed after impacting the ground during a positioning flight.

Accident Overview and Flight Details On December 6, 2013, at approximately 1630 eastern standard time, a Texas Helicopter Corporation M74L helicopter, registration N1001N, operated by Spray Copter LLC., was destroyed after impacting the ground near Sebring, Florida. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The flight was a positioning maneuver conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, departing a local farm field at 1615 and destined for Sebring Regional Airport (SEF). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter had been conducting aerial application flights earlier in the day, treating approximately 400 acres with insecticide. The purpose of the accident flight was to reposition the aircraft to SEF for maintenance, including washing and an engine oil change. Before departure, the helicopter was refueled from a truck that also transported chemicals for the aerial application operations.

Contributing factors

Fluid conditionPilot

Related events

Same aircraft family

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 6 Dec 2013 TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP M74L accident near Sebring, FL?

A Texas Helicopter Corporation M74L, N1001N, crashed near Sebring, Florida, on December 6, 2013, killing the pilot. The helicopter was destroyed after impacting the ground during a positioning flight.

Were there any fatalities in the 6 Dec 2013 TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP M74L accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 6 Dec 2013 involved a TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP M74L, registration N1001N, operated by Spray Copter, LLC, at Sebring, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A partial loss of engine power as a result of contamination of the engine’s fuel supply, and the pilot’s impaired performance due to his use of diphenhydramine, which resulted in his inability to complete a forced or precautionary autorotative landing successfully.

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