# NTSB investigations: Bell OH-58A, CA NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB WPR24LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA041.md): Bell OH-58A · Brawley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 21, 2023 · N158TR · Substantial damage > A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 8 bearing and the subsequent failure of the scavenge oil pump. - [NTSB WPR23LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA313.md): Bell OH-58A · Guernsey, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 9, 2023 · N861CC · Substantial damage > 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, excessive main rotor blade flapping, mast bumping, and impact… - [NTSB WPR22LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA140.md): Bell OH-58A · Merced, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 1, 2022 · N9287U · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to see and avoid wires while conducting an aerial application flight, which resulted in a wire strike and ground impact. - [NTSB WPR22LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA032.md): Bell OH-58A · Holtville, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 9, 2021 · N902SF · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after becoming spatially disoriented when the helicopter entered low-level haze/fog. - [NTSB WPR20CA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA092.md): Bell OH 58A · Colexico, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 19, 2020 · N288NS · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to arrest the descent rate while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in impact with terrain. - [NTSB WPR17LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA034.md): Bell OH 58A · Sacramento, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 4, 2016 · N916PD · Substantial damage > The failure of the vertical stabilizer due to fatigue. - [NTSB WPR16LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA134.md): Bell OH 58A · Brawley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 2, 2016 · N6251G · Substantial damage > The engine's degraded performance due to excessive wear of the engine bleed valve, which prevented it from closing during the accident flight. Contributing to the accident was the operator's failure to overhaul the bleed valve within the… - [NTSB WPR14TA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14TA149.md): Bell OH-58A · Tehachapi, CA · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Mar 27, 2014 · N497E · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to attempt a mission at night with known en route weather conditions below operating minimums, likely due to self-induced pressure, and then continue flight beyond the alternate landing airport as weather conditions deteriorated, which… - [NTSB WPR13GA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13GA044.md): Bell OH-58 · Altadena, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Nov 17, 2012 · N911FA · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage > The landing pilot's failure to maintain clearance with from obstacles a parked prior to landinghelicopter and the other pilot's failure to park the helicopter inside of a marked parking pad. Contributing to the accident was the landing pilot's obscured… - [NTSB WPR12LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA096.md): Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58A · Brawley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 21, 2012 · N902SF · Substantial damage > The failure of the main rotor mast due to fatigue cracks that originated from corrosion pits. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended overhaul interval for the main rotor mast. - [NTSB LAX08CA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA054.md): Bell OH-58A · Brawley, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 30, 2008 · N902SF · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles. A factor in the accident was the dark night conditions. - [NTSB LAX05FA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05FA264.md): San Joaquin Helicopters OH-58A+ · Lancaster, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 10, 2005 · N177SJ · Substantial damage > The pinion to turbine shaft coupling failed in fatigue due to a misaligned turbine shaft, which resulted in a loss of engine power. - [NTSB LAX04TA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04TA202.md): Bell OH-58A+ · Bakersfield, CA · Accident · No injuries · Final report · May 4, 2004 · N397E · Substantial damage > loss of engine power due to the separation of the diaphragm portion of the repaired second-stage turbine nozzle from the rim portion due to the use of an inadequate cleaning method to clean the joint prior to the braze repair during overhaul by the… - [NTSB LAX03LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA126.md): Bell OH-58A · Calipatria, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 4, 2003 · N38FA · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the helicopter, and an inadvertent dynamic rollover during takeoff-initial climb, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain. - [NTSB LAX02TA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02TA118.md): Bell OH-58A · Chico, CA · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Mar 29, 2002 · N487BC · Substantial damage > the loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Factors in the accident were the pilot's misjudged flare resulting in a hard landing and the lack of recent experience in emergency procedures by the pilot. - [NTSB LAX00LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA118.md): Arrow OH-58A · Calipatria, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 8, 2000 · N39FA · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate checklist procedure prior to departure, which did not verify the fuel selector was in the proper position for flight, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed for an autorotative landing. - [NTSB LAX00GA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00GA073.md): Arrow OH-58A · Crows Landing, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Final report · Jan 12, 2000 · N901SF · Destroyed > The failure of the pilot to maintain altitude and clearance from terrain during a turn to reverse direction after encountering instrument meteorological conditions. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a full weather briefing before… - [NTSB LAX00TA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00TA030.md): Bell OH-58A · La Puente, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Nov 6, 1999 · N911RN · Destroyed > A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB LAX99LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA319.md): Bell OH58A · Salinas, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 18, 1999 · N5800K · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from all ground obstacles during a low altitude aerial application flight. - [NTSB LAX98LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA134.md): Bell OH-58A · Huron, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 9, 1998 · N176SJ · Substantial damage > A loss of engine power due to deteriorated O-ring seals in the fuel boost pump, which allowed air to enter the fuel lines. Factors in the accident were the inadequate manufacturer's inspection criteria for the fuel boost pump O-ring seals and the resulting… ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'CA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1181579')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=1181579&state=CA --- 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.