20020328025529A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell OH-58A · Forestranch, CA · March 28, 2002

Date: March 28, 2002 · 17:40 local
Place: Forestranch, CA
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N487BC
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX02TA118
Reported as: Bell OH58A

N487BCRegistration cancelled Oct 2, 2020 · Bell OH-58AS/N 70-15107 Airframe modelBell OH-58A

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot stated that he was cruising at 1,000 ft. when he felt a left yaw. He also encountered a low main rotor speed warning. The pilot noted the N1 gage was at 70% and decreasing. The pilot autorotated into a gravel parking lot. When the helicopter touched down, the main rotor struck the tail boom. This contact severed the aft portion of the tail boom. During the autorotation, the pilot stated the he tried to restart the engine. He said that the engine was running at idle after touch down.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CRUISING AT 1,000 FT. WHEN HE FELT A LEFT YAW. HE ALSO ENCOUNTERED A LOW MAIN ROTOR SPEED WARNING. THE PILOT NOTED THE N1 GAGE WAS AT 70% AND DECREASING. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED INTO A GRAVEL PARKING LOT. WHEN THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. THIS CONTACT SEVERED THE AFT PORTION OF THE TAIL BOOM. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE PILOT STATED THE HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT IDLE AFTER TOUCH DOWN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX02TA118Accident · No injuriesFinal reportChico, CAthe loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Factors in the accident were the pilot's misjudged flare resulting in a hard landing and the lack of recent experience in emergency procedures by the pilot.Mar 29, 2002 · Substantial damage