# Accident 20210518006859A: Bell OH-58A, Ulysses, KS, May 18, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 2021, 14:32 local time
- Place: Ulysses, KS
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 72TG
- Location: 37.5656° N, 101.3703° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5656&lon=-101.3703&mi=10
- Aircraft: N176SJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N176SJ) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA225) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210518006859A

## Narrative

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

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF ULYSSES KS WHEN A POWER LINE STRIKE OCCURRED DURING HELICOPTER AGRICULTURAL SPRAY OPERATIONS. THE ACCIDENT WAS LOCATED IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE WEST OF K25 HIGHWAY AND SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD 1. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING FROM A PORTABLE LOADING STATION AT THE FIELD. THE HELICOPTER WAS EASTBOUND COMPLETING A SPRAYING RUN, STRUCK A POWER LINE, BECAME UNSTABLE AND IMPACTED AT A STEEP ANGLE IN A WHEAT FIELD ABOUT 450 FEET  SOUTHEAST OF THE WIRE STRIKE. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST FACING EAST, APPROXIMATELY 434 FEET EAST OF THE TWO-TRACK FIELD ENTRANCE ROAD. A SEGMENT OF THE WIRE AND HELICOPTER DEBRIS WAS FOUND BETWEEN THE ACCIDENT SITE AND POWER LINE RIGHT OF WAY. AN EXCERPT FROM THE WITNESS STATEMENT DESCRIBED THE HELICOPTER MADE A POPPING NOISE (LATER DETERMINED TO BE FROM THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTING THE CHARGED POWER LINE) AT THE SAME TIME PITCHING UP AS IF BEGINNING A RIGHT TURN FOLLOWED BY, TWO MORE POPPING NOISES THEN NOSING OVER AND DESCENDING UNTIL IMPACTING THE FIELD. THE PILOT WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL IN SERIOUS CONDITION AND EXPIRED 3 DAYS LATER. WEATHER REPORTED FROM GARDEN CITY, KS AIRPORT, 30 MILES NE FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT: KGCK 181954Z VRB06KT 10SM FEW039 BKN110 21/11 A2990 RMK A02 SLP107 T02060111

## 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 CEN21LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA225), May 18, 2021: Bell OH58A (N176SJ), Ulysses, KS, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during the aerial application flight, which resulted in collision with the power line and subsequent impact with terrain.

## Other reports on N176SJ (1)

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

- [Accident 19980408006119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980408006119A), Apr 8, 1998: Bell OH58A (N176SJ), Huron, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) When the OH58 helicopter took off from the landing pad of a nurse truck to do a rinse of his application equipment, the engine lost power. The pilot made…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.