Bell OH-58C N31JA

Summary

On 11 January 2000 at about 19:15 local time, a Bell OH-58C registered N31JA was involved in an accident near Lindrith, New Mexico, United States. 4 people were 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

11 January 2000 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Lindrith, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

36.3006, -107.0391

Aircraft

Bell OH-58C

Registration

N31JA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Remote Site → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00TA042

1 person was seriously injured.

Loss of tail rotor effectiveness while maneuvering. A factor was the high density altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting an annual game survey with three employees of the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department. He had been airborne for approximately 2 hours, and was planning on returning for fuel. While flying on an easterly heading at 35 knots and 100 ft. agl in calm winds, the pilot initiated a shallow right turn and the aircraft started a yaw to the right. Left pedal was applied to counteract the movement with no effect. The pilot lowered collective to reduce the torque and the aircraft began to spin to the right. He closed the throttle to the flight idle position to reduce torque on the airframe. The aircraft continued to spin and as it was approaching the ground, he pulled the pitch back to cushion the landing. The helicopter impacted the top of a pinion tree and came to rest on its right side. The day following the accident, an FAA maintenance inspector performed an inspection of the tail rotor system and no discrepancies were found. Density altitude at the accident site was calculated to be 7,240 feet above msl.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.