# Accident 20080129009999A: Bell OH58A, Brawley, CA, January 29, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 29, 2008, 21:00 local time
- Place: Brawley, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: FAYG
- Location: 33.0361° N, 115.5194° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0361&lon=-115.5194&mi=10
- Aircraft: N902SF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N902SF-2023-03-06) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 16,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08CA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080129009999A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT OF N902SF WAS CONDUCTING AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING OPERATIONS AT NIGHT. WHILE FLYING BETWEEN JOB SITES THE HELICOPTER STRUCK HIGH TENSION POWER LINES THAT WERE APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET AGL. THE AIRCRAFT CUT THROUGH SEVERAL OF THE WIRES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND STARTED TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE HELICOPTER ALSO STARTED TO SPIN RIGHT WHICH SUGGESTS A LOSS OF THE TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS BLINDED BY THE ELECTRICAL FLASHES AFTER STRIKING THE WIRES. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT FRONT SKID. THE SKID COLLAPSED AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

## 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 LAX08CA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA054), Jan 30, 2008: Bell OH-58A (N902SF), Brawley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles. A factor in the accident was the dark night conditions.

## Other reports on N902SF (2)

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

- [Accident 20211109018009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211109018009A), Nov 9, 2021: Bell OH-58A (N902SF), Holtville, CA, Substantial damage. Holtville, CA on 11/9/2021, N902SF, a Bell OH-58, struck a sprinkler in the field while performing 14CFR part 137 crop dusting operations, the helicopter…
- [Accident 20120121002419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120121002419A), Jan 21, 2012: Bell OH-58A (N902SF), Brawley, CA, No damage. Aero falcon OH-58 had a rotor mast failure just pior to lift -off of the aircraft, failure was internal of the main rotor transmission no damage to aircraft…

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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