# Accident 20231120020249A: Bell OH-58A, Imperial, CA, November 20, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 20, 2023, 20:05 local time
- Place: Imperial, CA
- Airport: Imperial
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 71TG
- Location: 33.0020° N, 115.4670° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0020&lon=-115.4670&mi=10
- Aircraft: N158TR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N158TR) (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
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA041) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231120020249A

## Narrative

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

SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF ABOUT 200 YARDS THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN POWER SURGE FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISE AND VIBRATION.

PILOTS STATED THE FOLLOWING,

SENSING THAT AN EMANATE ENGINE FAILURE WAS GOING TO OCCUR, I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A RIGHT TURN BACK TO FLAT TERRAIN ON

THE COMPANY'S PROPERTY. ABOUT HALFWAY BACK TO THE LEVEL TERRAIN (AIRCRAFT WAS CURRENTLY TRANSITIONING OVER THE

RIVERBED AND HEAVY BRUSH) THE ENGINE CONTINUED MAKING ABNORMAL NOISE WITH AN OBVIOUS LOSS OF POWER. AS I

APPROACHED THE LANDING SITE I HAD TO BLEED OFF SOME OF THE AVAILABLE ROTOR RPM TO CLEAR THE EMBANKMENT.

AS THE AIRCRAFT REACHED THE LEVEL TERRAIN, I WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH OVER THE GROUND, AND I MADE A SLIGHT PITCH UP TO DECREASE FORWARD MOVEMENT. AS THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED FROM APPROXIMATELY 5' AGL I APPLIED FORWARD CYCLIC TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND WITH SKIDS LEVEL AND PULLED THE REMAINING COLLECTIVE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CUSHION THE TOUCH DOWN. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROTOR RPM REMAINING TO CUSHION, AND I ESTIMATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT FELL THROUGH FROM APPROXIMATELY 4-5 FEET.

TOUCH DOWN WAS MODERATELY VIOLENT AS THE MAIN ROTOR DROOPED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE UPPER WIRE STRIKE PROTECTION FIXTURE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 WPR24LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA041), Nov 21, 2023: Bell OH-58A (N158TR), Brawley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 8 bearing and the subsequent failure of the scavenge oil pump.

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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