# Accident 20020328025529A: Bell OH58A, Forestranch, CA, March 28, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 28, 2002, 17:40 local time
- Place: Forestranch, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7953° N, 121.8586° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7953&lon=-121.8586&mi=10
- Aircraft: N487BC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N487BC-2020-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH58A
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02TA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02TA118) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020328025529A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 LAX02TA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02TA118), Mar 29, 2002: Bell OH-58A (N487BC), Chico, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the 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…

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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