Bell OH-58A N103WC

Summary

On 15 November 2021 at about 16:19 local time, a Bell OH-58A registered N103WC, operated by Edgefield Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Molalla, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 November 2021 at 16:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Molalla, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.1473, -122.5757

Aircraft

Bell OH-58A

Registration

N103WC

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Edgefield Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sandy → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA034

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot was lifting off with an external load of Christmas trees. As the helicopter climbed above 60 ft above the ground (agl), the pilot reported that he simultaneously heard a change in sound from the engine and felt the helicopter yaw, but could not remember which direction the helicopter yawed. After he released the external load, the helicopter lost altitude and he heard the main rotor speed decay. He initiated an autorotation and raised the collective while maintaining heading in the landing flare. The skids contacted the water-soaked soil and the helicopter rocked nose-low, bounced, and came to rest upright. Subsequently, the main rotor blade struck the tailboom and separated the tail rotor and tail rotor gearbox assembly. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. The engine functioned normally during two separate tests and the intermittent operation of the fuel boost pump annunciator light could not be replicated. According to the helicopter manufacturer, under the given conditions, at a gross weight of 2,350 pounds and a height of 50 feet, a hover out of ground effect can be accomplished. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.