# Accident 20130504006959A: Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc OH-58A+, Somerton, AZ, May 4, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2013, 00:12 local time
- Place: Somerton, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 7MIG
- Location: 32.5964° N, 114.7222° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5964&lon=-114.7222&mi=10
- Aircraft: N911RN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ARROW FALCON EXPORTERS INC OH-58A+
- Reported engine: ALLISON T63-A-720
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 650 total, 250 in this make and model, 63 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA215) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130504006959A

## Narrative

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

AN AERO FALCON EXPORTERS OH-58A+ COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING CROP DUSTING OPERATIONS NEAR SOMERTON, AZ. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED AND VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM MORRIS AG AIR SOUTHWEST LLC IN YUMA, AZ.  THE PILOT STATED HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND AS HE WAS TURNING THE CYCLIC REACHED THE LEFT STOP AND HE HAD NO MORE LEFT CYCLIC AUTHORITY. THE HELICOPTER WAS STILL DRIFTING RIGHT AND HE WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE POWER LINES. THE PILOT APPLIED UP COLLECTIVE AND LEFT PEDAL TO MANEUVER OVER THE POWER LINES WHEN THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO ROTATE TO THE RIGHT IN AN UNCOMMANDED FASHION. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AS THE PILOT TRIED TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO MECHANICAL FAILURES DURING THE FLIGHT.

## 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 WPR13LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA215), May 4, 2013: Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58A+ (N911RN), Somerton, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering at a low altitude in dark night conditions, which resulted in collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's…

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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