# NTSB WPR20CA092: Bell OH 58A, N288NS, Colexico, CA, February 19, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 18, 2020, 19:15 local (Feb 19, 2020, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Colexico, CA - Coordinates: 33.133335, -115.699996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1333&lon=-115.7000&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 25, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100969/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100969 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA092 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to arrest the descent rate while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [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) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight, he sprayed a row on the field and then climbed the helicopter to avoid wires on the south side of the field. He then turned the helicopter right and began to descend back to the field. After he cleared the wires, he entered the field's spray line and began raising the collective and noticed that the torque gauge was responding; however, he failed to arrest the descent, and the helicopter subsequently impacted terrain and came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot reported that during an aerial application flight, he sprayed a row on the field and climbed to avoid wires on the south side of the field. He then made a right turn and began his descent back to the field. After he cleared the wires, he entered the field on the spray line and began raising the collective. He noticed that the torque gauge was responding, however, the rate of descent was not being halted and the helicopter subsequently impacted the ground and came to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N288NS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N288NS), registered now, S/N 70-15288, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell OH 58A (No Series) - Registry model: [Bell OH-58A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (registry code 1181579) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison T63 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t63-series) (registry code 03031, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 70-15288 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 11218 - Engines: Rolls Royce C20C SERIES 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: A Farmer Service Corp - Registered owner: Amador Fernandez Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 28, 2019, 32 hours before - Departed: IPL, Imperial, CA - Destination: IPL, Imperial, CA - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,713 total, 713 in this make and model, 2,583 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F - Observed at: IPL ## 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 20200218000199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200218000199A), Feb 18, 2020: Bell OH-58A, El Centro, CA, Destroyed. At approximately 19:15 PST, the pilot was performing an aerial application at alamitos 6 b. pilot had a final load onboard and took off into the wind. Pilot… ## Other investigations on N288NS (1) 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 CEN16LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA289), Jul 22, 2016: Bell OH 58A (N288NS), Lake Mills, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a wire strike. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 6, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100969. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 569 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481081&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - On Scene Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=On%20Scene%20Photos-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.