20211109018009A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell OH-58A · Holtville, CA · November 9, 2021

Date: November 9, 2021 · 04:00 local
Place: Holtville, CA
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: FAYG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N902SF
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR22LA032
Reported as: Bell OH-58A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,600 total1,500 in this make and model250 in the last 90 days

N902SFRegistration cancelled Mar 6, 2023 · Bell OH-58AS/N 70-15406 · Built 1970 Airframe modelBell OH-58A Engine modelAllison T63 seriesTurbo-shaft

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.

Holtville, CA on 11/9/2021, N902SF, a Bell OH-58, struck a sprinkler in the field while performing 14CFR part 137 crop dusting operations, the helicopter subsequently crashed. The pilot was the only occupant and was un-injured during the crash, the aircraft suffered major damage.

As the FAA filed it

HOLTVILLE, CA ON 11/9/2021, N902SF, A BELL OH-58, STRUCK A SPRINKLER IN THE FIELD WHILE PERFORMING 14CFR PART 137 CROP DUSTING OPERATIONS, THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED. THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT AND WAS UN-INJURED DURING THE CRASH, THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE.

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 WPR22LA032Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHoltville, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after becoming spatially disoriented when the helicopter entered low-level haze/fog.Nov 9, 2021 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N902SF · 2

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

Accident 20120121002419ATakeoff: Rotation · Brawley, CAAero falcon OH-58 had a rotor mast failure just pior to lift -off of the aircraft, failure was internal of the main rotor transmission no damage to aircraft noted.Jan 21, 2012 · No damage Accident 20080129009999ANormal Cruise · Brawley, CA(-23) The pilot of N902SF was conducting agricultural spraying operations at night. While flying between job sites the helicopter struck high tension power lines that were approximately 60 feet AGL. The aircraft cut through several of the wires. The pilot…Jan 29, 2008 · Destroyed