# Accident 20170507008699A: Rotorcraft Development Corp OH-58A+, Waterloo, IL, May 7, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 7, 2017, 14:50 local time
- Place: Waterloo, IL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: K4GG
- Location: 38.2900° N, 90.2300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2900&lon=-90.2300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N993YC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N993YC-2018-09-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rotorcraft Development OH-58A+ (registry code 3740050, https://openairdocs.org/model/rotorcraft-development-oh-58a-plus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison T63-A-720 (registry code 03083, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-a-720) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROTORCRAFT DEVELOPMENT CORP 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: 5,556 total, 456 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA265) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170507008699A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 07, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 1450CST OH-58A+ HELICOPTER, N993YC CONTACTED POWER LINES WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL SPRAYING OPERATIONS WHICH CAUSED THE PILOT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND LANDED IN THE FIELD APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET WEST OF THE OBSTRUCTED POWER LINES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 25 FT. OFF THE ROAD (3817'47.68N, 9013'59.27W) AND WAS POSITIONED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE WITH THE NOSE FACING THE NORTH. THE AIRCRAFT TOOK SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THERE WERE PIECES OF THE POWER LINE WRAPPED AROUND THE MAIN ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR.  AFTER A SEARCH OF THE AREA FOR PARTS THAT HAD DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE WAS DISCOVERED APPROXIMATELY 90 FT. SOUTH EAST OF THE AIRCRAFT CURRENT LOCATION AND THE WIRE STRIKE PROTECTION SYSTEM (WSPS) WAS DISCOVERED APPROXIMATELY 75 FT. WEST OF THE AIRCRAFT CURRENT LOCATION. THE WSPS SHOWED NO EVIDENCE THAT THE SYSTEM MADE CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES DURING THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES.

## 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 GAA17CA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA265), May 7, 2017: Rotorcraft Development OH-58A+ (N993YC), Waterloo, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid transmission wires while maneuvering at a low altitude.

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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