Forward Fuselage
Top of Helicopter and Engine Compartment
Cabin Area
Left Side of Helicopter
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Diego, California
https://registry.faa.gov/N288NS
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Diego, California
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
https://registry.faa.gov/N288NS
Location: Calexico, California
Accident Number: WPR20CA092
Date & Time: February 17, 2020, 19:15 Local
Registration: N288NS
Aircraft: Bell OH 58A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Low altitude operation/event
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural
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.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to arrest the descent rate while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Descent rate - Not attained/maintained
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Miscellaneous/other
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Low altitude operation/event (Defining event)
Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Post-impact Roll over
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 41,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 18, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: April 11, 2019
Flight Time: 2713 hours (Total, all aircraft), 713 hours (Total, this make and model), 2583 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Bell
Registration: N288NS
Model/Series: OH 58A No Series
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 1970
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted (Special)
Serial Number: 70-15288
Landing Gear Type: High skid
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: November 28, 2019 100 hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 32 Hrs
Engines: 1 Turbo shaft
Airframe Total Time: 11218 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Rolls Royce
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: C20C SERIES
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 420 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural aircraft (137)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: IPL,-54 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time:
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting:
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Imperial, CA (IPL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Imperial, CA (IPL)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 10:15 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.133335,-115.699996(est)
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Des Moines, Iowa
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Lake Mills, IA
Accident Number: CEN16LA289
Date & Time: 07/22/2016, 1600 CDT
Registration: N288NS
Aircraft: BELL OH 58A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural
Analysis
The commercial pilot was performing an agricultural application flight. The pilot reported that, while spraying a field, the helicopter struck a wire that he did not see. The pilot reported that after striking the wire, the helicopter came to a stop, and then the wire broke. The pilot flew the helicopter to the ground, and the helicopter hit hard and then flipped onto its side. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a wire strike.
Findings
Aircraft
Altitude - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Personnel issues
Monitoring environment - Pilot (Cause)
Environmental issues
Wire - Effect on operation (Cause)
Factual Information
On July 22, 2016, about 1600 central daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N288NS, sustained substantial damage when it struck a wire and the ground during an aerial application pass near Lake Mills, Iowa. The pilot received minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to North Star Holdings, Inc., and operated by North Star Helicopters, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a farm near Northwood, Iowa, about 1430.
The pilot reported that the while spraying a field, he hit a wire that he did not see. The wire went into the upper wire cutter, bringing the helicopter to a stop, and then the wire broke. He flew the helicopter to the ground, hitting hard and the helicopter flipped onto its side. He reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter.
History of Flight
Maneuvering
Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) (Defining event)
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 52, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/30/2015
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/16/2016
Flight Time: 8712 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1443 hours (Total, this make and model), 8362 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 19 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 14 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: BELL
Registration:N288NS
Model/Series: OH 58A NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built:No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number: 70-15288
Landing Gear Type: High Skid;
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/27/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Turbo Shaft
Airframe Total Time: 9862 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Rolls Royce
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 250-T63-A720
Registered Owner: NORTH STAR HOLDINGS INC
Rated Power: 420 hp
Operator: NORTH STAR HELICOPTER INC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: KFZG
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KFXY, 1229 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2055 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 182°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 2000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 70°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 25°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Northwood, IA (PVT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Northwood, IA (PVT)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1430 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: Unknown
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 43.387500, -93.621667
NTSB Identification: CEN16LA289
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Friday, July 22, 2016 in Lake Mills, IA
Aircraft: BELL OH 58A, registration: N288NS
Injuries: 1 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On July 22, 2016, about 1600 central daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N288NS, sustained substantial damage when it struck a wire and the ground during an aerial application pass near Lake Mills, Iowa. The pilot received minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to North Star Holdings, Inc., and operated by North Star Helicopters, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a farm near Northwood, Iowa about 1430.
The pilot reported that the while spraying a field, he hit a wire that he did not see. The wire went into the upper wire cutter, bringing the helicopter to a stop, and then the wire broke. He flew the helicopter to the ground, hitting hard and the helicopter flipped onto its side. He reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter.
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