# NTSB ERA24LA314: Bell OH-58A, N176SA, Hegins, PA, July 19, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 19, 2024, 13:08 local (17:08 UTC) - Place: Hegins, PA - Coordinates: 40.66519, -76.48335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6652&lon=-76.4834&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): 194739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194739/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194739 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA314 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate pre-flight and in-flight planning, which resulted in the helicopter striking a wire hazard during an aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); 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 The pilot explained that he flew a perimeter reconnaissance of the fields designated for fungicide application with the helicopter. He identified hazards to flight (wires, houses, terrain features, wind direction, etc.) and then completed applications over three of the assigned areas before beginning a fourth. As the pilot aligned the helicopter for an application pass and descended to “spray height” he detected a “loosely strung” powerline across his path that sagged to about “4-5 feet above the height of the corn.” The pilot attempted to climb the helicopter over the wire but was unsuccessful. Immediately after contact with the wire, the pilot experienced a “very rough” vertical vibration and decaying rotor rpm, so he initiated a power-on autorotation for landing. At touchdown on upsloping terrain, the helicopter pitched forward, the pilot corrected with an aft cyclic input, the helicopter entered a “dynamic rollover” to its right and came to rest on its right side substantially damaged. The pilot reported that he was uninjured in the accident, and that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the helicopter preventing normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N176SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N176SA-2024-11-13), registration cancelled 2024-11-13, S/N 71-20850, built 2011 (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: [Rolls-Royce T63-A-720](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-t63-a-720) (registry code 54227, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 71-20850 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 6914 - Engines: ROLLS-ROYC T63-A-720 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Red Lion, PA - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 9, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,465 total, 2,330 in this make and model, 4,369 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KMUI, 14 nm away - METAR: KMUI 191655Z 26005KT 10SM SCT050 27/11 A3013 RMK AO2A SLP202 T02740110 ## 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 20240719010639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240719010639A), Jul 19, 2024: Bell OH-58A, Hegins, PA, Substantial damage. On July 19, 2024, at 1308 eastern daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter was substantially damaged when it was involved in an off-airport accident in Hegins,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194739. 26.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 18.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17605636&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_Form_6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 page 3 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17605717&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Page%203%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot NTSB (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17605946&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA314%20MFR%20-%20Duty%20Officer%20to%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot FAA (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17604690&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20240806%20Ring%20Record%20of%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 232 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17605646&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photo%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.