# NTSB CEN16LA289: Bell OH 58A, N288NS, Lake Mills, IA, July 22, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 22, 2016, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Lake Mills, IA
- Coordinates: 43.3875, -93.621665
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3875&lon=-93.6217&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-Des Moines FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93700
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA289
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93700/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93700
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA289

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a wire strike.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot was performing an agricultural application flight. The pilot reported that, while spraying a field, the helicopter struck a wire that he did not see. The pilot reported that after striking the wire, the helicopter came to a stop, and then the wire broke. The pilot flew the helicopter to the ground, and the helicopter hit hard and then flipped onto its side. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter.

## Factual narrative

On July 22, 2016, about 1600 central daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N288NS, sustained substantial damage when it struck a wire and the ground during an aerial application pass near Lake Mills, Iowa. The pilot received minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to North Star Holdings, Inc., and operated by North Star Helicopters, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a farm near Northwood, Iowa, about 1430.The pilot reported that the while spraying a field, he hit a wire that he did not see. The wire went into the upper wire cutter, bringing the helicopter to a stop, and then the wire broke. He flew the helicopter to the ground, hitting hard and the helicopter flipped onto its side. He reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N288NS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N288NS), registered now, S/N 70-15288, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH 58A (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Bell OH-58A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (registry code 1181579) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison T63 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-series) (registry code 03031, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 70-15288
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 9862
- Engines: Rolls Royce 250-T63-A720 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: North Star Helicopter Inc
- Registered owner: North Star Holdings Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2016
- Departed: PVT, Northwood, IA
- Destination: PVT, Northwood, IA
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,712 total, 1,443 in this make and model, 8,362 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KFXY, 9 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20160722011409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160722011409A), Jul 22, 2016: Bell OH-58A, Lake Mills, IA, Substantial damage. A part 137 crop dusting aircraft hit a power line. The location of the accident occurred southwest of Lake Mills, IA and the pilot was not injured. At…

## Other investigations on N288NS (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 WPR20CA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA092), Feb 19, 2020: Bell OH 58A (N288NS), Colexico, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to arrest the descent rate while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in impact with terrain.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93700. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

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.

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