# Accident 20260903011919A: Bell OH-58A, Phoenix, AZ, September 3, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 3, 2026, 08:45 local time
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7503° N, 112.0183° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7503&lon=-112.0183&mi=10
- Aircraft: N480FT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N480FT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20C (registry code 54179, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 22,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA328) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260903011919A

## Narrative

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

PIC STATED HE AND ANOTHER PILOT DEPARTED FROM PHOENIX DEER VALLEY AIRPORT (DVT) TO PRACTICE HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS. PIC COMPLETED ONE HOVERING AUTOROTATION FOLLOWED BY OTHER PILOT COMPLETING ONE. PIC STATED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 0845 LOCAL TIME, HE BEGAN THE THIRD HOVERING AUTOROTATION. PIC BEGAN THE MANEUVER AND AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FT AGL AT 60 KTS, PIC ROLLED THROTTLE TO FULL POWER AND “JOINED THE ROTOR RPM NEEDLE WITH THE ENGINES RPM NEEDLE”. PIC BEGAN FLAIR AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 FT AGL AND PULLED IN COLLECTIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 10 FT AGL WITH THE GOAL OF SETTLING AT ABOUT A 3-5 FT AGL HOVER. DURING THIS, THE LOW ROTOR RPM HORN SOUNDED, AND PIC STATED THAT HE DID NOT RECEIVE AN ENGINE RESPONSE AFTER INCREASING THROTTLE. PIC THEN PULLED IN MORE COLLECTIVE RESULTING IN AN IMPACT WITH THE GROUND RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THIS RESULTED IN THE MAIN ROTOR ALONG WITH THE TAIL ROTOR AND GEARBOX SEPARATING FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED TO A SECURE FACILITY FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. AWAITING NTSB COORDINATION WITH AIRFRAME AND ENGINE MANUFACTURERS TO PERFORM TEARDOWN. REPORT WILL BE AMENDED FOLLOWING TEARDOWN.

## 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 WPR26LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA328), Sep 3, 2026: Bell OH-58A (N480FT), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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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