# NTSB WPR09CA220: Bell OH-58A, N175SJ, Arvin, CA, April 30, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 29, 2009, 18:30 local (Apr 30, 2009, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Arvin, CA - Coordinates: 35.308612, -118.837776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3086&lon=-118.8378&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 August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73753 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73753/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73753 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA220 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from wires during aerial application maneuvers. ## 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: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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: [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on the last local aerial application flight of the day. Prior to starting the job, he flew above and around the field to check for obstructions and power lines. The field had numerous electrical feeder wires, with north-south power lines on the west and east ends of the 1/2-mile-long field. This application required the material be applied while making east-west passes above the feeder wires and oil pumps. Upon maneuvering onto the last eastbound pass, he applied aft cyclic to climb above the location of feeder wires. Several seconds later, he felt a sudden jarring and vibration emitting from the rear portion of the helicopter. He felt that he had possibly struck a wire that he did not see, and continued flying the helicopter in an eastbound direction to perform an emergency landing. As he began slowing, the front of the helicopter began yawing to the right in a southeast direction and it was headed towards a triple strand of east-west power lines and a small oil pump 25 feet south of the electrical lines. In anticipation of a second wire strike, he closed the throttle and began an autorotation prior to the helicopter striking the east-west power lines. It came to rest in an upright position facing in a southwest direction. He could hear the engine operating and performed emergency engine shutdown procedures. Visual examination revealed that the tail rotor made contact with the first set of power lines and separated along with its gearbox. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage after the second contact. ## Factual narrative The pilot was on the last local aerial application flight of the day. Prior to starting the job, he flew above and around the field to check for obstructions and power lines. The field had numerous electrical feeder wires running throughout the job site, with north-south power lines on the west and east ends of the 1/2-mile-long field. This application required the material to be applied while making east-west passes above the feeder wires and oil pumps. Upon maneuvering onto the last eastbound pass, he applied aft cyclic to climb above the location of feeder wires. Several seconds later, he felt a sudden jarring and vibration emitting from the rear portion of the helicopter. He felt that he had possibly struck a wire that he did not see, and continued flying the helicopter in an eastbound direction to perform an emergency landing. As he began slowing, the front of the helicopter began yawing to the right in a southeast direction. It was headed towards a triple strand of east-west power lines and a small oil pump positioned approximately 25 feet south of the triple strand electrical lines. In anticipation of a second wire strike, he closed the throttle and began an autorotation prior to the helicopter striking the east-west power lines. It came to rest in an upright position facing in a southwest direction. He could hear the engine operating and performed emergency engine shutdown procedures. He exited the helicopter after all motion stopped, and met his field supervisor, who had already arrived and disconnected the aircraft battery. The tail rotor made contact with the first set of power lines and separated along with its gearbox. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage after the second contact. ## Aircraft - Registration: N175SJ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 70-15529 - Engines: Rolls-Royce Allison T63 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: San Joaquin Helicopters - Registered owner: San Joaquin Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Delano, CA - Destination: Delano, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 2,700 total, 1,100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KBFL, 14 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 20090429004569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090429004569A), Apr 29, 2009: Bell OH58A, Arvin, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While conducting an aerial application, the aircraft struck a power line with its tail rotor. The pilot stated that he conducted a prior inspection of… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73753. 230 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Notes (item 2, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Notes-Master.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.