# NTSB ERA22LA341: Garlick OH-58A+, N132HD, Bloomsburg, PA, July 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 27, 2022, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Bloomsburg, PA · Near 400 Ridge Road, Bloomsburg, PA - Coordinates: 40.986111, -76.506667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9861&lon=-76.5067&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 105600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA341 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105600/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105600 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA341 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and visual lookout, which resulted in impact with a powerline. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an aerial application flight while spraying a corn field, the helicopter’s tail section struck a powerline. The pilot did not see the powerline, which crossed over the middle of the cornfield perpendicular to the spray pass he was performing, but he knew what he had struck as soon as the helicopter came into contact with it. He had already begun to pull up out of the field when the helicopter struck the powerline and was still moving forward at approximately 50 mph. As the helicopter slowed and he reached about 200’ agl, the helicopter began a yaw to the right that developed into an uncontrollable spin in the same direction. As the helicopter began spinning faster and faster, the pilot rolled off throttle to minimize the torque induced rotations. During the touchdown, the helicopter impacted in an approximately level attitude, and then rolled over on its right side, and was substantially damaged. The pilot noted that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident could have been avoided if more “field recon” procedures were done to be certain that powerlines are avoided. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N132HD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N132HD), registered now, S/N 72-21264, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GARLICK 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: 41930 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 9030 - Engines: Allison 250 C20C 420 hp turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Triple F Flying Inc - Registered owner: Triple F Flying Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 15, 2022 - Departed: None, Buckhorn, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 13, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,720 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 5,425 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KSEG, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KSEG 271853Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM SCT048 BKN060 BKN080 28/19 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP133 T02780194= ## 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 20220727020189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220727020189A), Jul 27, 2022: Bell OH-58A, Bloomsburg, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot operating N132HD helicopter was aerial spraying a cornfield located near [privacy data omitted]. At approximately 1500 hours local, while making the… ## Other investigations on N132HD (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA10LA499](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA499), Sep 24, 2010: Bell OH-58A (N132HD), Taylorsville, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude for undetermined reasons. ## 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=105600. 27.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 17.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14917924&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 6.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14917830&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Accident location (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14916771&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Approximate%20Accident%20Location-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.