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

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.