Bell OH-58 N902LP

Summary

On 22 February 2021 at about 20:00 local time, a Bell OH-58 registered N902LP, operated by Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office, was involved in an accident near Greensburg, Louisiana, 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.

Date

22 February 2021 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Greensburg, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

30.8300, -90.6686

Aircraft

Bell OH-58

Registration

N902LP

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA135

3 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control and terrain clearance while hovering, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that he lifted off in the helicopter to “about a 2-3” ft hover above the flat grassy field into the wind. The helicopter then “rolled hard to the right and rear,” the pilot attempted to arrest the lateral rolling motion by putting the collective to the full down position and applying full left cyclic input. The pilot reported the right rear skid contacted the ground, which caused a dynamic rollover. The helicopter came to rest on its right side, the pilot performed an emergency shutdown, and the occupants egressed from the helicopter without further incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.