Bell OH-58C N153GF

Summary

On 16 November 2008 at about 06:28 local time, a Bell OH-58C registered N153GF, operated by Arkansas Game and Fish Commision, was involved in an accident near Quitman, Arkansas, United States. 2 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 November 2008 at 06:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Quitman, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

None

Coordinates

35.0856, -92.4539

Aircraft

Bell OH-58C

Registration

N153GF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Arkansas Game and Fish Commision

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Heber Springs → Heber Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN09TA060

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to execute a proper autorotation during a forced landing after a loss of rotor rpm for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot and the passenger were conducting a public use night surveillance flight. The pilot was wearing night vision goggles (NVGs) while operating over a large field approximately 150-feet above the ground on a westerly heading at 10 knots. The master caution light illuminated followed by the low rotor rpm light and low rotor RPM horn. The pilot lowered the collective pitch and descended straight down. The helicopter struck the ground hard in a nose low, left bank attitude. Examination of the helicopter revealed no pre-mishap mechanical deficiencies. The engine examination and limited test-run on a Rolls Royce approved test stand using a slave compressor did not reveal any deficiencies that would have prevented the engine from producing power at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.