Garlick OH-58A+ N372NS

Summary

On 22 June 2005 at about 13:45 local time, a Garlick OH-58A+ registered N372NS was involved in an accident near Graham, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 June 2005 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Graham, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.9000, -98.5333

Aircraft

Garlick OH-58A+

Registration

N372NS

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Graham → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW05CA172

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the wire while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. Low altitude flight is a contributing factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After 3 hours of flying, the agricultural helicopter collided with high tension wires and impacted the ground while maneuvering during aerial application of pesticides. The 10,000-hour pilot completed spraying a pasture and was trimming the edges when the helicopter struck the wires during a pull-up maneuver. Evidence at the accident site showed that the tail boom struck the top wire of the high tension string and separated in-flight. After the tail boom separated, the helicopter descended uncontrolled to ground impact. The wires did not have fixed aerial obstruction features (orange balls, etc.) installed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.