# Accident 20081116850839A: Bell OH58C, Quitman, AR, November 16, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 16, 2008, 00:28 local time
- Place: Quitman, AR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0856° N, 92.4539° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0856&lon=-92.4539&mi=10
- Aircraft: N153GF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N153GF-2015-05-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58C (registry code 1181580, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH58C
- Reported engine: ALLSN T63A720
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 3,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09TA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09TA060) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081116850839A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 16, 2008, AT APPROXIMATLEY 0028 CDT, N153GF, A BELL OH58C, OPERATED BY THE ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION, NEAR QUITMAN ARKANSAS, EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING.  THE HARD LANDING RESULTED IN DESTRUCTION OF THE HELICOPTER AND ONE FATALITY.  THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER DEPARTING HEBER SPRINGS AIRPORT (HBZ) FOR REFUELING THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ON A NIGHT SURVEILLANCE MISSION TOWARD THE TOWN OF QUITMAN.  THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT ON NIGHT VISION GOGGLES (NVG) AND HOVERING AT APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET, WHEN THE INSTRUMENTS INDICATED A LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING.  HE ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER THE ROTOR RPM WARNING CONDITION, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT BANK ATTITUDE.  HE ADDED THAT THE ROTOR HIT THE COCKPIT ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE PASSENGER WAS FATALLY INJURED.  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT NIGHT VMC AND LIGHT WINDS EXISTED.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.  THE 14CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER VFR.  NO FLIGHT PLAN.  A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTON OF THE AIRCRAFT BY INSPECTORS OF THE LIT FSDO AND MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVES DID NOT DETERMINE ANY ANOMALIES RELATED TO THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN09TA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09TA060), Nov 16, 2008: Bell OH-58C (N153GF), Quitman, AR, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to execute a proper autorotation during a forced landing after a loss of rotor rpm for undetermined reasons.

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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