# Accident 20231115015289A: Bell OH-58A, Estacada, OR, November 15, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 2023, 07:44 local time
- Place: Estacada, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: 5EFL
- Location: 45.2659° N, 122.3552° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2659&lon=-122.3552&mi=10
- Aircraft: N103WC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A
- Reported engine: ALLISON T63 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,858 total, 591 in this make and model, 116 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA036) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231115015289A

## Narrative

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

DURING A PART 133 EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, THE HELICOPTER WAS DELIVERING A LOAD OF CHRISTMAS TREES TO THE LANDING. WHEN THE PILOT ACTIVATED THE RELEASE, THE LOAD DID NOT INITIALLY RELEASE. BASED ON INVESTIGATION, IT APPEARS THAT THE PILOT TRIED TO FLY AWAY BEFORE THE LOAD RELEASED, THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN, THE PILOT CORRECTED WITH AFT CYCLIC AND THE MAIN ROTOR CUT OFF THE TAIL BOOM FORWARD OF THE TAIL ROTOR. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED OVER 10 ROTATIONS AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN POSITION OVER 100 YARDS AWAY FROM WHERE THE TAIL BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR LANDED. UPON CONTACTING THE GROUND, THE MAIN ROTORS AND ROTOR HEAD DETACHED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. HOOK ON THE LONG LINE WAS MANUFACTURED BY MECHANICAL SPECIALITIES.

## 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 WPR24LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA036), Nov 15, 2023: Bell OH-58A (N103WC), Estacada, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an external load operation, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor blades impacting the tail boom.

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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