- Date
- December 15, 2008, 10:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place
- Osceola County, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N659HABell OH-58C
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 25, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20081215856669A
- Case key
- 69577
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 misjudgment of altitude during low-altitude spraying operations, which resulted in an in-flight collision with water.
Findings · 2
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 helicopter pilot stated that he was spraying pesticide over a lake, adding that weather conditions were overcast skies and calm winds. He was spraying from east to west and west to east, and trying to keep his altitude between 50 and 200 feet above the water, and speed of about 30 miles per hour. He stated that the spray runs were about a mile. He was finishing up his 14th takeoff and landing for the day. He said the lake was glassy and that it was difficult to judge his altitude; he then flew into the water and flipped over. He reported no mechanical problems with the helicopter.
Factual narrative
The helicopter pilot stated that he was spraying pesticide over a lake, adding that weather conditions were overcast skies and calm winds. He was spraying from east to west and west to east, and trying to keep his altitude between 50 and 200 feet above the water, and speed of about 30 miles per hour. He stated that the spray runs were about a mile. He was finishing up his 14th takeoff and landing for the day. He said the lake was glassy and that it was difficult to judge his altitude; he then flew into the water and flipped over. He reported no mechanical problems with the helicopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N659HA
- Reported as
- Bell OH-58C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 70-15159
- Airframe hours
- 6,483
- Engine
- Allison T63-720, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Helicopter Applicators, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Helicopter Applicators, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 17, 2008 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- Saint Cloud, FL
- Destination
- Saint Cloud, FL
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 18, 2008
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 13,827 total · 5,440 in this make and model · 13,470 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.32 inHg
- Observed at
- MCO
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.