Bell OH 58A N1032F
27 October 2018 · Carson City, Nevada, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 27 October 2018 at about 22:45 local time, a Bell OH 58A registered N1032F, operated by Washoe County Sheriffs Office, was involved in an accident near Carson City, Nevada, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Carson City, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.2089, -119.8047
- Aircraft
- Bell OH 58A
- Registration
- N1032F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Washoe County Sheriffs Office
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Reno → Carson City
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- GAA19CA039
People
3 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude in hilly terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to determine the airplane’s altitude due to sun glare.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that, while maneuvering at low altitude along a highway, the sun was in line with the helicopter's direction of travel and in his eyes. When the helicopter was about 200 ft above ground level, the main rotor blades struck three power lines strung across the highway. He executed an emergency landing without further incident. The pilot added that the unmarked wires crossed the highway from behind one hill to behind an adjacent hill on the other side of the highway and that the power line poles were not visible due to blocking terrain. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell OH-58A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 2018 | Bell OH 58A | Juana Diaz, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Jun 2018 | Bell OH 58A | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | North Carolina State Highway Patrol | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 2019 | Bell OH 58A | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States | St Johns County Sheriffs Office | No injuries | - |
| 3 Oct 2019 | Bell OH 58A | Fort Meade, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 2019 | Bell OH 58A | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | Omaha Police Department | No injuries | - |
| 19 Feb 2020 | Bell OH 58A | Colexico, California, United States | A Farmer Service Corp | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 May 2018 | Beechcraft A36 | Tonopah, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 2018 | Beechcraft 95 | North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Sheble Joseph F II | No injuries | - |
| 28 May 2018 | Cessna T182T | Yerington, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Feb 2018 | Oliver Lawrence R KITFOX IV 1200 | Carson City, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Feb 2018 | Baker Victor R KITFOX | Carson City, Nevada, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Apr 2018 | North Wing Uum SPORT X2-N | Pahrump, Nevada, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |