# Accident 20050810019879A: Bell OH58A, Lancaster, CA, August 10, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 2005, 06:03 local time
- Place: Lancaster, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: CUFG
- Location: 34.7078° N, 118.0325° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7078&lon=-118.0325&mi=10
- Aircraft: N177SJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177SJ-2017-06-07) (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
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 4,089 total, 350 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05FA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05FA264) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050810019879A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON AUGUST 10, 2005, AT 06:03 PDT, A SAN JOAQUIN HELICOPTERS OH-58A+, N177SJ, OPERATING IN THE RESTRICTED CATEGORY, IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE PERFORMING AN AERIAL AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING ACTIVITY IN LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. ACCORDING TO A LOCAL FARMER WHO WAS ASSISTING THE OPERATION SAID THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED THE FUEL AND CHEMICAL LOADING TRUCK AND FLEW NORTH APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE LOW LEVEL TO THE LOCATION, WHICH WAS TO BE SPRAYED. THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED OVER A ROW OF TREES AND A FARM HOUSE, BEGAN A DESCENT AND DISAPPEARED BEHIND THE ROW OF TREES. THE WITNESS DROVE AROUND THE CORNER AND SAW THE HELICOPTER IMPACT THE GROUND, NOSE FIRST. THE HELICOPTER SKIDDED ALONG THE FIELD, WHICH WAS TO BE SPRAYED, FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS BEFORE COMING TO REST.

## 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 LAX05FA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05FA264), Aug 10, 2005: San Joaquin Helicopters OH-58A+ (N177SJ), Lancaster, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pinion to turbine shaft coupling failed in fatigue due to a misaligned turbine shaft, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

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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