# Accident 20120301003829A: Bell OH-58A, Eufaul, AL, March 1, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 1, 2012, 12:00 local time
- Place: Eufaul, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.9511° N, 85.1278° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9511&lon=-85.1278&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 OH-58A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 22,000 total, 15,000 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12CA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA199) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120301003829A

## Narrative

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

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS RECEIVING ANNUAL REFRESHER TRAINING FROM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.  AFTER COMPLETING LOWLEVEL AIRWORK THEY CLIMBED TO 500 FEET FOR AUTOROTATION WORK.  AT SOME POINT THE HELICOPTER WENT OUT OF TRIM AND JUST AS THEY GOT IT BACK IN TRIM "THE BOTTOM FELL OUT AND WE WENT VERTICALLY".  THE HELICOPOTER SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING STRIKING THE STINGER AND SKIDS.  NEITHER PILOT COULD EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.  WHEN INTERVIEWED ON SEPERATE DAYS, BOTH PILOTS SAID THEY WERE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE CONTROLS.

## 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 ERA12CA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA199), Mar 1, 2012: Bell OH-58A (N38FA), Eufaula, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind, which resulted in an excessive descent rate and hard landing.

## Other reports on N38FA (2)

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

- [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.…
- [Accident 20030404010269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030404010269A), Apr 4, 2003: Bell OH58A (N38FA), Westmoreland, CA, Substantial damage. (-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…

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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