- Date
- November 9, 2021, 03:50 local (11:50 UTC)
- Place
- Holtville, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N902SFBell OH-58A
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: VFR encounter with IMC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20211109018009A
- Case key
- 104233
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control after becoming spatially disoriented when the helicopter entered low-level haze/fog.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during an aerial application flight, he encountered some “low-level haze/fog” as he maneuvered the helicopter towards the load truck. After safely landing, he decided to add fuel and return to his operating base. Shortly after departure, the fog thickened so he decided to return to the load site. The pilot reported that he was headed in the direction of the load truck but became spatially disorientated as the haze/fog thickened. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground coming to rest on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N902SF
- Reported as
- Bell OH-58A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 70-15406
- Built
- 1970
- Airframe hours
- 14,521
- Engine
- Rolls Royce 250-C20C, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 91
- Operator
- Farm Aviation
- Registered owner
- Bank Of Utah Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 8, 2021 · 82 hours before
- Departed
- KBWC · Brawley, CA
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- NA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2021
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 3,615 total · 1,515 in this make and model · 3,485 as pilot in command · 161 in the last 90 days · 63 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 135° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- KIPL, 12 nm away
- METAR
- KIPL 091153Z AUTO 17003KT 10SM CLR 16/04 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP168 T01610044 10194 20139 51005
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N902SF · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.