# NTSB WPR22LA140: Bell OH-58A, N9287U, Merced, CA, April 1, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 1, 2022, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Merced, CA - Coordinates: 37.189404, -120.68928 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1894&lon=-120.6893&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 104882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104882/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104882 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA140 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to see and avoid wires while conducting an aerial application flight, which resulted in a wire strike and ground impact. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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: [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) ## Analysis The pilot in the helicopter reported that, he was conducting an agricultural aerial application flight. Before he started the spray operation, he overflew the field to identify obstacles. While approaching the northeast corner of the fields from the south, he overflew one set of wires, “ducked down” into the corner to spray, and pulled up as he approached the edge of the field. As he pulled up, he saw wires he had not seen before and tried to hit them with the wire cutter installed on the helicopter. The helicopter impacted the wires, descended, and impacted the ground. 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: [N9287U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9287U-2023-10-07), registration cancelled 2023-10-07, S/N 71-20428, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A - 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: 71-20428 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 6369 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C2-OC 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: American Ag Aviation Inc - Registered owner: American Ag Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 28, 2022, 178 hours before - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,336 total, 647 in this make and model, 1,970 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KMCE, 10 nm away - METAR: KMCE 011953Z AUTO 23005KT 10SM CLR 22/03 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP134 T02170028 ## 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 20220401001759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220401001759A), Apr 1, 2022: Bell OH-58A, Merced, CA, Destroyed. Helicopter struck power line during an ag dispersal flight. One wire was cut, but second wire miss the wire cutter causing the helicopter to crash and was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104882. 906 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13647260&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13671698&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation-Pilot-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13647595&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos_WPR22LA140-Rel.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.