# Accident 20230730012439A: Bell OH-58A, Blanchard, ID, July 30, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2023, 12:30 local time
- Place: Blanchard, ID
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.0102° N, 116.9841° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0102&lon=-116.9841&mi=10
- Aircraft: N613SS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N613SS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,470 total, 208 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA297) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230730012439A

## Narrative

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

WHILE AT CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 1200' AGL, CAUTION LIGHT FOR LOW ROTOR SPEED CAME ON. PILOT IMMEDIATELY ENTERED AUTOROTATION TO FIELD. THE PILOT TRIED TO EXTEND GLIDE TO CLEAR DIKE AND LANDED ON SKIDS WITH FORWARD MOMENTUM AND SLID FOR 100'. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, BOTH SKIDS WERE TORN OFF AND TAIL BOOM WAS CUTOFF. HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER AND MAIN ROTOR HEAD AND SHAFT DEPARTED AIRCRAFT. NO INJURIES TO 4 ONBOARD.

## 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 WPR23LA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA297), Jul 30, 2023: Bell OH-58A (N613SS), Blanchard, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fuel contamination, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The source of the contamination could not be determined.

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.