# NTSB CEN23LA147: Bell OH-58A, N82851, Wade, OK, March 29, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 29, 2023, 09:23 local (14:23 UTC) - Place: Wade, OK · Open agricultural field - Coordinates: 33.847506, -96.119761 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8475&lon=-96.1198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106987 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106987/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106987 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA147 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (turbine/turboprop)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis While maneuvering during an aerial application flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot conducted an autorotation to a field. During the autorotation, the helicopter landed hard, rolled over, and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed a foamy cream-colored liquid in the airframe fuel filter and fuel line. The pilot reported that before the accident flight the helicopter was fueled from the operator’s support truck fuel tank. Initial examination of the tank showed no visible signs of fuel contamination. A subsequent visual examination, several days later, showed the same cream-colored contamination that was identified in the helicopter fuel system. The pilot reported that the truck’s fuel tank was filled the day before from his on-site fuel storage tank. The reason for the fuel contamination in the operator’s on-site fuel storage or the helicopter fuel system could not be determined. The loss of engine power was attributed to fuel contamination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82851](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82851), registered now, S/N 72-21118 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A - 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: 72-21118 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 12010 - Engines: ALLISON T63 SERIES 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Prentice Aviation, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 3, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2021; seat: right; flight hours: 33,100 total, 12,000 in this make and model, 31,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KDUA, 15 nm away - METAR: KDUA 291415Z AUTO 11004KT 10SM SCT120 10/02 A3028 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 20230329002399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230329002399A), Mar 29, 2023: Bell OH-58A, Bokchito, OK, Destroyed. A 1972 Bell OH-58A aircraft equipped to perform agricultural operation crashed in a field approximately 3.3 miles southeast of albany Oklahoma while performing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106987. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15351957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15352198&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15351769&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.