20030404010269A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell OH-58A · Westmoreland, CA · April 4, 2003

Date: April 4, 2003 · 05:55 local
Place: Westmoreland, CA
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: FAYG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N38FA
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03LA126
Reported as: Bell OH58A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 23,000 total2,500 in this make and model150 in the last 90 days

N38FARegistered now · Bell OH-58AS/N 70-15448 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) A hose used to fill the chemical tank for aerial application was not removed before the pilot attempted to take off. When the slack in the hose was removed, the helicopter rotated toward one side and the rotor blades started striking the ground, bringing the helicopter down to rest on its right side. The pilot was not injured, but the helicopter sustained substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) A HOSE USED TO FILL THE CHEMICAL TANK FOR AERIAL APPLICATION WAS NOT REMOVED BEFORE THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF. WHEN THE SLACK IN THE HOSE WAS REMOVED, THE HELICOPTER ROTATED TOWARD ONE SIDE AND THE ROTOR BLADES STARTED STRIKING THE GROUND, BRINGING THE HELICOPTER DOWN TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

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 LAX03LA126Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCalipatria, CAThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the helicopter, and an inadvertent dynamic rollover during takeoff-initial climb, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain.Apr 4, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N38FA · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20120301003829ALanding: Touchdown · Eufaul, AL[privacy data omitted] Was receiving annual refresher training from [privacy data omitted]. After completing lowlevel airwork they climbed to 500 feet for autorotation work. At some point the helicopter went out of trim and just as they got it back in trim…Mar 1, 2012 · Substantial damage Accident 20100918055909AHover/Holding · Covington, TNN38FA an OH58A had taken off from a fueling platform on top of a tanker truck. The weather was clear with variable wind at 2 mph. Fuel load was 150-170 lbs. And full chemical load of 80 gallons. The pilot stated he lifted off at 100% RPM to a height of 20-25…Sep 18, 2010 · Substantial damage