# Accident 20130214002949A: Bell OH58A, Pine Springs, TX, February 14, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 14, 2013, 15:45 local time
- Place: Pine Springs, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.0545° N, 97.5628° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0545&lon=-97.5628&mi=10
- Aircraft: N337PW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N337PW-2018-05-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH58A
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 4,782 total, 225 in this make and model, 136 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13TA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13TA165) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130214002949A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 14, 2013, THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED FROM CARNUDAS, TEXAS IN A BELL HELICOPTER, ARMY MODEL OH58A, ON A WILDLIFE SURVEY FLIGHT FOR TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.

APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES INTO THE INITIAL TRANSECT (141) FOR THE AFTERNOON, ON A HEADING OF 45 DEGREES, AT APPROXIMATELY 15:45 CST, THE HELICOPTER WAS IN FORWARD FLIGHT 100FT AGL AND 30 KNOT GROUND SPEED AND 75% TORQUE, THE PILOT INCREASED COLLECTIVE PITCH IN ORDER TO CLIMB AND CROSS AN INTERSECTING RIDGE LINE.  THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO YAW TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE YAW WITH LEFT TAIL ROTOR PEDAL.  THE HELICOPTER ROTATED 4 TO 5 TIMES CLOCKWISE AND IMPACTED, LANDING GEAR FIRST  ON THE RIDGE COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE, FACING OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT.  THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED.  THE TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.  THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER LANDING GEAR, MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR SYSTEMS, UPPER CABIN STRUCTURE AND TAIL BOOM ASSEMBLY.

## 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 CEN13TA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13TA165), Feb 14, 2013: Bell OH-58A (N337PW), Pine Springs, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while operating in conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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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