# Accident 20191003018719A: Bell OH-58A, Ft Meade, FL, October 3, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 2019, 15:03 local time
- Place: Ft Meade, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.7022° N, 81.7689° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7022&lon=-81.7689&mi=10
- Aircraft: N911RW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911RW-2021-06-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A
- Reported engine: ROLLS ROYCE T63
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,285 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA004) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191003018719A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT N911RW OPERATED BY THE POLK COUNTY FLORIDA SHERIFF OFFICE RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF A DOWNED AIRCRAFT.   THE DOWNED AIRCRAFT WAS IN A REMOTE MINING LOCATION IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.  THE GROUND IN THE AREA CONSISTS OF GYPSUM MUD WITH AN ESTIMATED DEPTH OF 50 TO 60 FEET.  THE DOWNED AIRCRAFT WAS A GYRO WHICH HAD CONDUCTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING INTO THE AREA.  WHEN THE SHERIFF HELICOPTER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE, THE PILOT OF THE GYRO WAS STANDING ON THE SEAT OF THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID SINKING INTO THE MUD.  THE SHERIFF DEPUTY REALIZED THE IMMEDIATE DANGER THE PILOT WAS IN AND ATTEMPTED TO RESCUE THE OTHER PILOT BY ALLOWING HIM TO HOLD ONTO THE SKID WHILE HE HOVERED TO FIRM GROUND.  AFTER A FEW FAILED ATTEMPTS TO HANG ONTO THE SKID, THE GYRO PILOT JUMPED ONTO THE SKID OF THE HOVERING HELICOPTER.  THE SUDDEN ADDED WEIGHT CAUSED A SHIFT IN CENTER OF GRAVITY WHICH LEAD TO A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL.  THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER AND CAME TO REST IN THE GYPSUM MUD.  DAMAGE INCLUDED A SEPARATED TAILBOOM, AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM, ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION.  THE SHERIFF DEPUTY WAS UNINJURED IN THE CRASH SEQUENCE, AS WAS THE GYRO PILOT.  THE TWO PILOTS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE GYPSUM MUD, AND WERE EVENTUALLY RESCUED BY A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER WITH A RESCUE HOIST.

## 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 ERA20LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA004), Oct 3, 2019: Bell OH 58A (N911RW), Fort Meade, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, which resulted in a dynamic rollover and impact with terrain.

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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