# Accident 20030404010269A: Bell OH58A, Westmoreland, CA, April 4, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 4, 2003, 05:55 local time
- Place: Westmoreland, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: FAYG
- Location: 33.1167° N, 115.6667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1167&lon=-115.6667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38FA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38FA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH58A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 23,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030404010269A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 LAX03LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA126), Apr 4, 2003: Bell OH-58A (N38FA), Calipatria, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

## Other reports on N38FA (2)

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

- [Accident 20120301003829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120301003829A), Mar 1, 2012: Bell OH-58A (N38FA), Eufaul, AL, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was receiving annual refresher training from [privacy data omitted]. After completing lowlevel airwork they climbed to 500 feet for…
- [Accident 20100918055909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100918055909A), Sep 18, 2010: Bell OH-58A (N38FA), Covington, TN, Substantial damage. N38FA 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.…

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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