# NTSB ERA24LA267: Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+, N72BM, Cisco, GA, June 18, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 18, 2024, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Cisco, GA - Coordinates: 34.910667, -84.73175 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9107&lon=-84.7318&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Rolls Royce - NTSB case key (mKey): 194502 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194502/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194502 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA267 ## Probable cause A reported total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3740006), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=3740006), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/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: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=3740006), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3740006), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the helicopter was performing an aerial application flight. He reported that, while taking off after loading chemical for the third application flight of the day, the helicopter felt “heavy,” but all the engine instruments were in the normal operating range, so he continued the flight. During the first teardrop turn back to the field, the engine rpm dropped and he saw that the red “engine out” light was illuminated. The pilot immediately looked for a place to land and tried to land between two trees. The helicopter contacted the trees and rolled over, coming to rest inverted and resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and tail rotor assembly. Examination of the engine and a successful engine test run did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2024, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Garlick Helicopters Inc, OH-58A+, N72BM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cisco, Georgia. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the pilot, he departed from Greensboro, Georgia, at 1043 to spray a field in Cisco, Georgia. After the 1.15-hour flight to the field, he landed, shut down the engine, and spoke to the landowner about what was to be sprayed and what was to be avoided. The pilot topped off the helicopter with fuel from a fuel truck. The landowner then flew around the field with the pilot so he could point out the different areas of concern. After the observation flight, the pilot loaded 40 gallons of chemicals and sprayed the first part of the field, which took about 8 minutes. The pilot returned and loaded another 50 gallons of chemicals while the engine remained operating. The pilot returned to the field and sprayed all 50 gallons. The pilot again loaded the helicopter with 50 more gallons of chemicals. During the subsequent liftoff, the helicopter felt “heavy,” but all the engine instruments were in their normal operating ranges, so he continued the flight. During the first teardrop turn back to the field to spray, the engine rpm dropped, and the pilot saw that the red “engine out” light was illuminated. The pilot immediately looked for a place to land and tried to land between two trees. The helicopter contacted the trees and rolled over, which substantially damaged the tail rotor assembly and main rotor blades. The helicopter displayed damage consistent with near-vertical impact, resulting in extensive damage to the front right side of the cockpit and aft lower fuselage areas, as well as the under fuselage-mounted chemical hopper. The tail boom was fractured aft of the fuselage attachment. The rotor head remained attached to the mast. The skids remained attached to the fuselage and were partially fractured and splayed outward on the right side. The main rotor blades remained attached to the rotor head but were fractured at different points along the length of the blades. The tail rotor assembly and portions of the blades remained attached to the tail rotor gearbox and tail boom mounts. The fuel cap remained in place at the fuel filler port. The fuel bladder was not punctured and an unquantified amount of fuel was observed in the tank such that the fuel boost pump was fully submerged. The drive shaft assembly had fractured at the flex-straps connecting the drive shaft to the main rotor transmission. The drive shaft assembly also disconnected at the engine side bolted connection to the freewheeling unit. Heavy rotational scoring was noted at several external locations along the length of the drive shaft. Rotational scoring and extensive gouging was noted on the main rotor transmission strike plate located immediately below the driveshaft flange connection to the transmission. The freewheeling unit was tested for proper functionality by checking its interactive rotation with the power turbine N2 rotor. The freewheel unit assembly and internal sprag-clutch bearing performed as expected. The output shaft assembly was disengaged and removed from the engine gearbox. All components appeared unremarkable and did not exhibit any anomalous damage. The engine was removed and sent to the manufacturer for further examination. Visual examination of the engine revealed that the compressor front support and 1st stage blades sustained heavy impact damage during the accident sequence. The 4th stage power turbine blades appeared undamaged and void of thermal distress, as did the surrounding turbine sections and exhaust plenum. The engine was placed in a test cell and successfully started, but was unable to achieve more than 115 ft-lbs of torque before the engine began to surge due to the damaged compressor blades. The compressor module was replaced with a serviceable module and the engine was started again. The engine successfully completed ground idle, flight-idle, max-continuous-power, and takeoff power runs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72BM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72BM), registered now, S/N 72-21248, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GARLICK HELICOPTERS INC OH-58A+ (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+](https://openairdocs.org/model/garlick-helicopters-oh-58a-plus) (registry code 3740006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison T63-A-720](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-a-720) (registry code 03083, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 72-21248 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 9118 - Engines: Rolls Royce T63-A-720 420 hp turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Vertical Vegetation Management LLC - Registered owner: Vertical Vegetation Management LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 9, 2024 - Airport: None - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,415 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,334 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 31,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: DNN, 13 nm away - METAR: KDNN 181735Z AUTO 13010KT 10SM SCT070 SCT260 BKN310 BKN350 30/19 A3017 RMK AO2 T02980188 ## 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 20240618021919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240618021919A), Jun 18, 2024: Garlick Helicopters Inc OH-58A+, Crandell, GA, Substantial damage. On approach to the area to be sprayed with the agricultural liquid the aircraft began to lose power and rotor RPM resulting in an emergency landing that… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194502. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17762890&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17763077&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20record-pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18173732&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 4, PDF, 12 pages, 552 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17762424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Wreckage exam summary - engine test run (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 234 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17767431&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Keystone-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 505 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17812722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WRF_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 7, PDF, 10 pages, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18174049&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form_Redacted-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.