20100202026859A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Arrow Falco OH-58A · Escalon, CA · February 2, 2010

Date: February 2, 2010 · 14:14 local
Place: Escalon, CA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: VFEG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N9286U
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR10LA126
Reported as: Arrow Falco OH-58A
Reported engine: Allison T63
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 17,095 total3,635 in this make and model37 in the last 90 days

N9286URegistration cancelled Aug 25, 2011 · Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58AS/N 69-16198 · Built 1997 Airframe modelArrow Falcon Exporters OH-58A Engine modelAllison T63 seriesTurbo-shaft

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.

While conducting title 14 CFR part 137 operations pilot reported to his ground crew that the helicopter was developing a vibration. Shortly after the generator caution light illuminated. Pilot decided to terminate aerial application operations and head back to home base. While enroute helicopter lost power and landed hard in an orchard.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE CONDUCTING TITLE 14 CFR PART 137 OPERATIONS PILOT REPORTED TO HIS GROUND CREW THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS DEVELOPING A VIBRATION. SHORTLY AFTER THE GENERATOR CAUTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PILOT DECIDED TO TERMINATE AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS AND HEAD BACK TO HOME BASE. WHILE ENROUTE HELICOPTER LOST POWER AND LANDED HARD IN AN ORCHARD.

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 WPR10LA126Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEscalon, CAA loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the fatigue failure of the pneumatic fuel-to-governor control line. Also causal was the inadequate installation of the pneumatic line by maintenance personnel, and the pilot’s decision to continue flight with…Feb 2, 2010 · Substantial damage