# NTSB CEN21LA135: Bell OH-58, N902LP, Greensburg, LA, February 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 22, 2021, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Greensburg, LA · Open field. - Coordinates: 30.830033, -90.668565 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8300&lon=-90.6686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 102663 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102663/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102663 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA135 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control and terrain clearance while hovering, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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-58C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N902LP-2022-03-09), registration cancelled 2022-03-09, S/N 71-20374 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL OH-58 (C) - Registry model: [Bell OH-58C](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58c) (registry code 1181580) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 71-20374 - Year built: 1971 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; 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 - Co-pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; 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 ## 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 20210222004749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210222004749A), Feb 22, 2021: Bell OH-58C, Greensburg, LA, Destroyed. On Monday, February 22, 2021 at approximately 1400L, an OH-58, N902LP, operated by the [privacy data omitted] sheriff?s department was conducting a missing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102663. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12005319&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 757 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12005636&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Additional documents (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12005876&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Additional%20Documents-Rel.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. --- 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.