# Accident 19990918043269A: Bell OH58A, Salinas, CA, September 18, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 1999, 06:50 local time
- Place: Salinas, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 36.6406° N, 121.6201° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6406&lon=-121.6201&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5800K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5800K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison T63 series (registry code 03031, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH58A
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA319) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990918043269A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) DURING AN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION THE PILOT WAS MAKING A WESTERLY PASS, AS HE CAME TO THE END OF THE FIELD HE FELT THE HELICOPTER YAW TO THE RIGHT, HE THEN CORRECTED THE YAW WITH LEFT PEDAL TO AVOID HITTING A POWER POLE THAT WAS TO HIS LEFT. DURING THE MANUEVER HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE TO HIS REAR AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT, TO AVOID HITTING THE WIRES AND POWERLINES POLES TO HIS RIGHT HE INCREASED PITCH ON THE COLLECTIVE UNTIL HE WAS APPROX. ONE HUNDRED FEET IN THE AIR, HE TRIED TO STREAMLINE THE A/C BUT IT WAS TURNING TOO FAST, HE THEN COMMENCED AN AUTOROTATION AND PULLED PITCH AT ABOUT TEN FEET OFF THE FROUND. 1. A COPY OF THIS REPORT WILL BE FORWARDED TO OPERATIONS FOR FURTHER EVALUATION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX99LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA319), Sep 18, 1999: Bell OH58A (N5800K), Salinas, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from all ground obstacles during a low altitude aerial application flight.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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