Arrow OH-58A N39FA

Summary

On 8 March 2000 at about 20:15 local time, a Arrow OH-58A registered N39FA was involved in an accident near Calipatria, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 March 2000 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Calipatria, California, United States

Nearest airport

Cliff Hatfield Memorial (CLR)

Coordinates

33.1300, -115.5217

Aircraft

Arrow OH-58A

Registration

N39FA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Calipatria → Calipatria

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA118

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate checklist procedure prior to departure, which did not verify the fuel selector was in the proper position for flight, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed for an autorotative landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter took off to the south and began a climb. Upon reaching about 60 feet above the ground, the helicopter lost power. At this time the helicopter was approaching power lines and the pilot used cyclic to climb over them. After clearing the wires, the pilot attempted an autorotative landing but there was insufficient main rotor speed to cushion the landing. The helicopter impacted the ground and the main rotor flexed severing the tail boom.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.