Bell OH-58A accident near Bartow, FL
On October 22, 2001, a Bell OH-58A (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Bartow, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 22, 2001
- Place
- Bartow, FL
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58A · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 27.953°N, 81.802°W
- NTSB ID
- 20011026X02149
Official records · MIA02GA011
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 22, 2001, about 0103 eastern daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N911DB (call sign Air 1), owned and operated by the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 public-use flight, impacted in a swampy area about 1.2 miles northwest of the Bartow Municipal Airport, Bartow, Florida. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed. The commercial-rated pilot and flight observer received fatal injuries. The flight had originated from the Bartow Airport at 0030. The pilot of N911DB received a call from the PCSO Communications Center (dispatcher) for aerial surveillance shortly after a burglary in the nearby city of Eaton Park, Florida, located about 7 miles northwest of the Bartow Airport. N911DB departed the airport and flew to a crime scene area where it provided aerial support. At 0058, the pilot of N911DB called PCSO dispatcher, and stated he was clear of the scene. About 0103, and while en route returning to the Bartow Airport, the pilot was contacted by the dispatcher, and told that a deputy at a power plant to the south-southwest of his current location required assistance. The last radio communication with the helicopter was a request from a deputy to have Air 1 do a fly-by "Florida Power," when Air 1 answered "10-4." An attempt to make contact with the helicopter by the PCSO dispatcher was made at 0105, with no response. At 0145, the chief pilot for the PCSO's air section was notified by the PCSO Communications Center that they could not raise Air 1 by radio. The
Probable cause
The pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain altitude, resulting in an in-flight collision with the ground. Factors in this accident were fog, and dark night.
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Browse: Florida · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
