# NTSB WPR26LA328: Bell OH-58A, N480FT, Phoenix, AZ, September 3, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: September 3, 2026, 09:32 local (16:32 UTC)
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.7503, -112.0183 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7503&lon=-112.0183&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Aviaiton Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203732
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA328
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203732/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA328

## Preliminary report

On September 3, 2026, about 0932 mountain standard time, a Bell OH-58, N480FT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Deer Valley, Arizona. The pilots did not sustain any injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The helicopter instructor reported he and a pilot-rated student departed from Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona to practice approaches, hovering autorotations, and autorotations with a power recovery in the local area. After completing the approaches and a hovering autorotation without incident, the instructor landed the helicopter and briefed the student about the autorotation with a power recovery procedure. Shortly after, the instructor and the student both demonstrated a successful autorotation with a power recovery. With the instructor on the controls and the helicopter about 500 ft above the ground (agl) and 70 knots indicating, the instructor initiated the third autorotation. The instructor noted that the entry was smooth and announced the main rotor rpm settled around 100% and that the N1 needle was around 62%, at idle engine power. About 200 ft agl and 60 knots, the instructor rolled the throttle to full power and joined the rotor rpm needle with the engine's rpm needle. As the helicopter crossed about 50 ft agl, the instructor initiated a flare and about 10-15 ft agl, he applied slight aft cyclic to slow the descent rate and terminate the recovery to a 3-5 ft agl hover. During the aft pitch control input, the low rotor RPM warning horn became audible and the instructor noted that he did not receive an engine response after he increased the throttle setting. The instructor quickly raised the collective lever to cushion the landing; however, the helicopter continued its descent and impacted terrain. Subsequently, the main rotor system separated from the mast and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor system, and drive train. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N480FT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N480FT), registered now, S/N 70-15464, built 1970 (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: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20c) (registry code 54179, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 70-15464
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 7336.6
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Dillon Flight Test Inc
- Registered owner: Dillon Flight Test Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2026, 14 hours before
- Departed: SDL, Scottsdale, AZ
- Destination: SDL, Scottdale, AZ
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KDVT, 4 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDVT 031553Z 20008KT 10SM CLR 31/18 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP111 T03110183

## 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 20260903011919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260903011919A), Sep 3, 2026: Bell OH-58A, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. PIC stated he and another pilot departed from Phoenix deer valley airport (dvt) to practice hovering autorotations. PIC completed one hovering autorotation…

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.

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