Bell OH-58C accident near Quitman, AR
On November 16, 2008, a Bell OH-58C (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Quitman, AR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 16, 2008
- Place
- Quitman, AR
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58C · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.086°N, 92.454°W
- NTSB ID
- 20081116X80702
Official records · CEN09TA060
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 16, 2008, at 0028 Central Standard Time, a Bell OH-58C, N153GF, sustained substantial damage when it landed hard in a field near Quitman, Arkansas. The commercial rated pilot was not injured and the passenger was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. No flight plan was filed and night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Public Use flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from the Heber Springs Municipal Airport (HBR), Heber Springs, Arkansas at 1130. The purpose of the night surveillance flight was to support ground personnel to apprehend "spot-lighters" who were illegally hunting deer at night. The pilot was wearing night vision goggles (NVGs) while operating over a large open field approximately 150-feet above ground level (agl) on a westerly heading at 10 knots. The pilot stated, "I suddenly noticed a master caution, low rotor lights, a low rotor audio, and a sinking of the aircraft. I initially glanced in and noticed a decaying of the N2/Rotor tach. I immediately lowered the collective and landed straight down." METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Weather reported at Adams Field Airport (LIT), Little Rock, Arkansas, at 0053, was reported as wind from 250 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 01 degrees Celsius, dew point 03 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.32 inches of Mercury. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 29 year old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate for airpla
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to execute a proper autorotation during a forced landing after a loss of rotor rpm for undetermined reasons.
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Browse: Arkansas · 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.
