20181116022559A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell OH-58C · Verbena, AL · November 16, 2018

Date: November 16, 2018 · 11:30 local
Place: Verbena, AL
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N510CP
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA19FA047
Reported as: Bell OH-58C
Reported engine: Allison A720
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 4,500 total216 in the last 90 days

N510CPRegistration cancelled Jun 4, 2022 · Bell OH-58AS/N 70-15183 Airframe modelBell OH-58A

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.

Accident helicopter was traveling from columbus ga (kcsg), stopped in auburn al (kauo) and picked up the passenger, continued towards clanton al (02A) when the helicopter struck power lines crossing the coosa river, crashed, and sank in 70 feet of water. No survivors.

As the FAA filed it

ACCIDENT HELICOPTER WAS TRAVELING FROM COLUMBUS GA (KCSG), STOPPED IN AUBURN AL (KAUO) AND PICKED UP THE PASSENGER, CONTINUED TOWARDS CLANTON AL (02A) WHEN THE HELICOPTER STRUCK POWER LINES CROSSING THE COOSA RIVER, CRASHED, AND SANK IN 70 FEET OF WATER. NO SURVIVORS.

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 ERA19FA047Accident · 2 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportVerbena, ALThe pilot's improper decision to conduct a low-level flight over a river, and his failure to see and avoid power lines, which resulted in the helicopter's impact with power lines and the water.Nov 16, 2018 · Substantial damage