# Accident 20200218000199A: Bell OH-58A, El Centro, CA, February 18, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 18, 2020, 19:15 local time
- Place: El Centro, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LSUG
- Location: 33.1333° N, 115.7000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1333&lon=-115.7000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N288NS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N288NS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison T63 series (registry code 03031, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A
- Reported engine: ALLISON T63 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,700 total, 700 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20CA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200218000199A

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 19:15 PST, THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AN AERIAL APPLICATION AT ALAMITOS 6 B. PILOT HAD A FINAL LOAD ONBOARD AND TOOK OFF INTO THE WIND. PILOT MADE A DOWNWIND PASS AND CLIMBED OVER THE POWER WIRES AND MADE A TURN NORTHBOUND AFTER CLEARING THE WIRES AND ENTERING THE FIELD. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE HELICOPTER FLYING AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE ROTOR BLADE IMPACTED THE GROUND CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO CRASH.

## 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 WPR20CA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA092), Feb 19, 2020: Bell OH 58A (N288NS), Colexico, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to arrest the descent rate while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in impact with terrain.

## Other reports on N288NS (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20160722011409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160722011409A), Jul 22, 2016: Bell OH-58A (N288NS), Lake Mills, IA, Substantial damage. A part 137 crop dusting aircraft hit a power line. The location of the accident occurred southwest of Lake Mills, IA and the pilot was not injured. At…

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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