# NTSB SEA08LA020: Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58+, N831SD, Cougar, WA, November 6, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 6, 2007, 08:55 local (16:55 UTC) - Place: Cougar, WA - Coordinates: 46.096668, -122.262779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0967&lon=-122.2628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Spokane FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67328/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA020 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a nearby tree while performing a hover-climb. Factors include his failure to maintain clearance from his long-line cable, and his likely diverted attention to the entanglement of the cable on the helicopter's wire strike mechanism. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - out of ground effect - external load cable/hook - entangled (contributing factor) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) - object - other - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis After lifting off from a dirt pad, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter into a seven to ten foot hover over the fertilizer bucket that was on the end of his long-line. Once centered over the bucket, the pilot began to climb straight up in a hover. As he lifted the bucket off the ground, the helicopter's nose dipped aggressively down, and the pilot became aware that the long-line was caught on the left side of the lower wire strike mechanism. The pilot attempted to put the bucket back on the ground, but the helicopter again dipped forward and to the right. As the pilot continued to attempt to maintain the position of the helicopter while he put the bucket back on the ground, it impacted a nearby Noble fir tree, and fell to the terrain below. According to the pilot and the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who responded to the scene, there were no anomalies or malfunctions associated with the helicopter's flight controls, engine, or airframe. ## Factual narrative On November 6, 2007, about 0855 Pacific standard time, an Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58+ helicopter, N831SD, impacted a tree during long-line fertilizer operations near Cougar, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, received minor injuries, and the helicopter, which is owned and operated by Farm and Forest Helicopter Services, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, which lifted off from a dirt pad about one minute before the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, after lifting off from the dirt pad, he maneuvered the helicopter into a seven to ten foot hover over the fertilizer bucket that was on the end of his long-line. Once centered over the bucket, the pilot began to climb straight up in a hover. As he lifted the bucket off the ground, the helicopter's nose dipped "aggressively down," and the pilot became aware that the long-line was caught on the left side of the lower wire strike mechanism. The pilot therefore attempted to put the bucket back on the ground, but the helicopter again dipped forward and to the right. As the pilot continued to attempt to maintain the position of the helicopter while he put the bucket back on the ground, it impacted a nearby Noble Fir tree, and fell to the terrain below. The helicopter came to rest on its right side. According to the pilot and the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who responded to the scene, there were no anomalies or malfunctions associated with the helicopter's flight controls, engine, or airframe. The pilot submitted a written statement describing the sequence of events, but he did not submit an NTSB Form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N831SD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N831SD), registered now, S/N 69-16120, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58+ - Registry model: [Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58A+](https://openairdocs.org/model/arrow-falcon-exporters-oh-58a-plus) (registry code 1500003) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison T63 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-series) (registry code 03031, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 69-16120 - Engines: Allison T63-A-720 400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Farm and Forest Helicopter Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Cougar, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: minor; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F ## 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 20071106826469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071106826469A), Nov 6, 2007: Bell OH58A, Cougar, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot took off with fertilizer bucket attached. Suspension cable from bucket was inadvertently over lower blade of wire strike protection system. Pilot… 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.