# NTSB LAX03LA126: Bell OH-58A, N38FA, Calipatria, CA, April 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 2003, 05:55 local (13:55 UTC) - Place: Calipatria, CA - Coordinates: 33.116664, -115.666664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1167&lon=-115.6667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56777/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA126 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the helicopter, and an inadvertent dynamic rollover during takeoff-initial climb, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - equipment,other - not removed, ground personnel - dynamic rollover - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - restricted - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The accident flight was the first flight of the day for commercial certificated pilot. He was relieving the owner/pilot, who had exited the helicopter and left it running, with a 50-foot loading hose connected to the right side of the helicopter just aft of the entry door. The helicopter was being loaded with product prior to an aerial application flight. The accident pilot boarded the helicopter from the right side, and prepared for takeoff. He observed the loader walking away from the helicopter, but failed to notice that the 50-foot loading hose was still attached. As the pilot executed the takeoff, the hose became taut, and it pulled the helicopter down until the main rotor blades collided with the ground. The helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its right side, 180 degrees from the departure path. ## Factual narrative On April 4, 2003, about 0555 Pacific standard time, a Bell OH-58A, N38FA, collided with terrain after an in-flight loss of control during the initial takeoff climb near Calipatria, California. Farm Aviation, Inc., was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local aerial application flight departed about 0555 from a dirt road 8 miles west of Calipatria. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 07 minutes north latitude and 115 degrees 40 minutes west longitude. The accident flight was the first flight of the day for accident pilot. The accident pilot was relieving the owner/pilot. The owner/pilot exited, and left the helicopter running. He briefed the accident pilot while ground personnel serviced the helicopter. The 50-foot loading hose connected to the right side of the helicopter just aft of the entry door. The accident pilot boarded the helicopter from the right side, and prepared for takeoff. He observed the loader walking away from the helicopter. However, he failed to notice that the 50-foot loading hose was still attached. As the pilot executed the takeoff, he removed the slack from the loading hose. When the hose became taut, it pulled the helicopter down until the main rotor blades collided with the ground. The helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its right side, 180 degrees from the departure path. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38FA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38FA), registered now, S/N 70-15448 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell OH-58A - Registry model: [Bell OH-58A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (registry code 1181579) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 70-15448 - Airframe hours: 6840 - Engines: Allison T63-A720 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Farm Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 2, 2003, 4.8 hours before - Departed: CALIPATRIA, CA - Airport: CLR, Cliff Hatfield Memorial ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 27, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 23,700 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 23,700 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KNJK, 20 nm away ## 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 20030404010269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030404010269A), Apr 4, 2003: Bell OH58A, Westmoreland, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) A hose used to fill the chemical tank for aerial application was not removed before the pilot attempted to take off. When the slack in the hose was… ## Other investigations on N38FA (2) 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 ERA12CA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA199), Mar 1, 2012: Bell OH-58A (N38FA), Eufaula, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind, which resulted in an excessive descent rate and hard landing. - [NTSB ERA10LA484](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA484), Sep 18, 2010: Bell OH-58A (N38FA), Covington, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to contamination of the helicopter's fuel supply. 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.