# Accident 20230809017419A: Bell OH-58A, Stratford, CA, August 9, 2023 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 9, 2023, 12:30 local time - Place: Stratford, CA - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Maneuver - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Operator: PWDG - Location: 36.1891° N, 119.6170° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1891&lon=-119.6170&mi=10 - Aircraft: N861CC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N861CC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Rolls-Royce T63-A-720 (registry code 54227, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-t63-a-720) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A - Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC T63-A-720 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 8,300 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA313) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230809017419A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON AUGUST 9, 2023, AN OH-58 HELICOPTER CRASHED WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF DISPENSING AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES. THE PIC OF THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER DESCRIBED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS AN ENGINE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED DURING AN AGRICULTURAL TURN. CONDUCTED AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ACCIDENT PILOT. PILOT WAS UNINJURED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A SORE SHOULDER. AFTER HE COMMENCED SPRAYING THE FIELD, HE NOTED THAT THE WINDS WERE VARIABLE THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE HIS FLIGHT. THE PILOT HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPOSITION THE ACCOMPANYING GROUND CREW IN ORDER TO HAVE THEM WATER DOWN THE GROUND APPROPRIATELY. HE FINISHED HIS FIRST LOAD AND RETURNED TO LOADING AREA FOR MORE FUEL AND CHEMICALS. THE PILOT THEN RETURNED TO THE FIELD TO FINISH SPRAYING. THE ACCIDENT PILOT ONCE AGAIN NOTICED THAT THE WINDS WERE UNPREDICTABLE AND DUE TO THE SHAPE OF THE FIELD ENDED UP PERFORMING THE FIRST PASS DOWNWIND. THE ACCIDENT PILOT ENDED THE FIRST PASS AND BEGAN A LEFT-HAND, 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE FIELD TO SET UP FOR ANOTHER PASS. HALF-WAY THROUGH THE TURN THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND HYDRAULICS AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 FT. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO PERFORM A FULL EMERGENCY LANDING/AUTOROTATION. THE RIGHT SKID MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND WHILE THE HELICOPTER STILL HAD FORWARD MOMENTUM AND LEFT A 40 FT. SKID MARK IN THE PACKED DOWN DIRT. THE LEFT SKID SUBSEQUENTLY CAME DOWN ON THE BANK OF THE NEARBY CANAL THAT HAD SUBSTANTIALLY SOFTER DIRT. THIS RESULTED IN THE LEFT SKID DIGGING INTO THE DIRT AND CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE (PIC SIDE). ## 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 WPR23LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA313), Aug 9, 2023: Bell OH-58A (N861CC), Guernsey, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s overpitching of the main rotor blades while maneuvering at low altitude in a high-temperature environment at high gross weight, which resulted in a reduction of engine and rotor speed,… 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.