NTSB MIA89LA204 — 1989-07-21 · GREENWOOD, Mississippi, United States

N47345 has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (BOEING 737-8, built 2024), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N47345 Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74 None

Probable cause & findings

FAILURE OF A MAIN ROTOR BLADE PITCH CHANGE HORN AND/OR ATTACHING BOLT(S).

Factual narrative

DURING CRUISE FLT, THE HELICOPTER WENT OUT OF CONTROL & BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED DESCENT. THE CYCLIC & COLLECTIVE CONTROLS WERE NON-RESPONSIVE, BUT LEFT PEDAL WAS APPLIED BEFORE THE HELICOPTER CRASHED & IT CRASHED IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE. AN EXAM OF THE FLT CONTROLS REVEALED THAT ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE PITCH CHANGE HORN HAD FAILED, AS WELL AS THE ATTACHING BOLTSFOR BOTH PITCH CHANGE HORNS. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT ONE OF THE BOLTS HAD FAILED, THEN THE OTHER FAILURES WERE FROM OVERLOAD. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_MIA89LA204.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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