# Accident 20200730011579A: Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc OH-58A+, Holtville, CA, July 30, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2020, 21:00 local time
- Place: Holtville, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LSUG
- Location: 32.7631° N, 115.2769° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7631&lon=-115.2769&mi=10
- Aircraft: N901XV, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N901XV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58A+ (registry code 1500003, https://openairdocs.org/model/arrow-falcon-exporters-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: ARROW FALCON EXPORTERS INC OH-58A+
- Reported engine: ALLISON T63-A-720
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA247) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200730011579A

## Narrative

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

ON 7/30/2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 PDT, THE PILOT CLAIMS THAT ENGINE POWER WAS LOST WHILE NEARLY COMPLETE WITH A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK (A TURN FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH) TOWARDS THE FIELD BEING SPRAYED DURING A PART 137 OPERATION.  THIS COURSE REVERSAL MANEUVER INVOLVED A CLIMB FROM APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) TO 80 FEET AGL, THEN A RELATIVELY STEEP ANGLE OF BANK TO THE LEFT TO PERFORM THE TURN AND LINE BACK UP WITH THE FIELD TO DISPENSE AGRICULTURAL RELATED SPRAY.  THE PILOT STATES THAT THE HELICOPTER?S ENGINE STOPPED (COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER) MOMENTS BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF THIS TURN ? SINCE THE PILOT?S ATTENTION MUST BE DIRECTED OUTSIDE THE HELICOPTER IN ORDER TO PERFORM THIS MANEUVER (ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT) HE DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO CONFIRM THIS POWER LOSS WITH INDICATIONS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.  THE PILOT NOTICED THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE SUDDEN LACK OF ENGINE NOISE.  AT THAT POINT THE PILOT LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT AND ATTEMPTED TO CUSHION THE LANDING WITH THE COLLECTIVE AS HE DESCENDED RAPIDLY TOWARD A DIRT ROAD IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THIS ROAD IS IMMEDIATELY BORDERED ON THE SOUTH SIDE BY A WALL OF HAY BALES.  AS THE PILOT FLARED THE AIRCRAFT AND BEGAN TO PULL COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION THE CRASH LANDING, THE HELICOPTER OVERSHOT THE ROAD AND DESCENDED ONTO THE WALL OF HAY BALES.  THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST AGAINST THE HAY BALES AND ON THE DIRT ROAD.  THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE MASTER BATTERY SWITCH AND EGRESSED THE HELICOPTER OUT OF THE PILOT DOOR.

## 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 WPR20LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA247), Jul 31, 2020: Bell OH58A (N901XV), Holtville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to the decoupling of the engine's turbine and compressor sections, which resulted from improper maintenance.

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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