- Date
- February 22, 2021, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Greensburg, LA · Open field
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N902LPBell OH-58
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Baton Rouge FSDO
- FAA report
- 20210222004749A
- Case key
- 102663
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control and terrain clearance while hovering, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The private pilot reported that he lifted off in the helicopter to “about a 2-3” ft hover above the flat grassy field into the wind. The helicopter then “rolled hard to the right and rear,” the pilot attempted to arrest the lateral rolling motion by putting the collective to the full down position and applying full left cyclic input. The pilot reported the right rear skid contacted the ground, which caused a dynamic rollover. The helicopter came to rest on its right side, the pilot performed an emergency shutdown, and the occupants egressed from the helicopter without further incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N902LP
- Reported as
- Bell OH-58 (C)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 71-20374
- Built
- 1971
- Engine
- Allison T63-A720, 420 hp, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft - local · Public use
- Operator
- Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office, doing business as None
- Registered owner
- Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2019
- Equipment
- ADS-B
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 11, 2020
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,922 total · 1,875 in this make and model · 1,922 as pilot in command
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 9, 2021
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 69 total · 5 in this make and model · 11 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KHDC, 23 nm away
- METAR
- KHDC 221955Z AUTO 34008KT 10SM CLR 21/03 A3014 RMK AO2
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.