- Date
- May 14, 2020, 03:15 local (07:15 UTC)
- Place
- Livingston, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N183MPBell OH-58C
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA / FSDO
- FAA report
- 20200514006229A
- Case key
- 101279
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 obstacle clearance while maneuvering at low altitude at night, which resulted in the helicopter striking a tree.
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 pilot of a helicopter reported that while maneuvering at low altitude, about 150 ft above the ground at night, the helicopter struck a tree. Subsequently, the helicopter started spinning to the right, impacted terrain, and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail-boom and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a helicopter reported that while maneuvering at low altitude, about 150 ft above the ground at night, the helicopter struck a tree. Subsequently, the helicopter started spinning to the right, impacted terrain, and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail-boom and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N183MP
- Reported as
- Bell OH-58C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 71-20666
- Built
- 1970
- Airframe hours
- 4,299.6
- Engine
- Rolls Royce C20C, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Air One Mobility Inc
- Registered owner
- Air One Mobility Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 15, 2020
- Departed
- Livingston, NY
- Destination
- Livingston, NY
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Handheld GPS
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
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 31, 2018
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,383 total · 564 in this make and model · 4,254 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.27 inHg
- Observed at
- PSF, 28 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 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.