Bell OH-58C N659HA

Summary

On 15 December 2008 at about 15:25 local time, a Bell OH-58C registered N659HA, operated by Helicopter Applicators, Inc., was involved in an accident near Osceola County, Florida, 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 December 2008 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Osceola County, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.2847, -81.2889

Aircraft

Bell OH-58C

Registration

N659HA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Helicopter Applicators, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Saint Cloud → Saint Cloud

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA090

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misjudgment of altitude during low-altitude spraying operations, which resulted in an in-flight collision with water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot stated that he was spraying pesticide over a lake, adding that weather conditions were overcast skies and calm winds. He was spraying from east to west and west to east, and trying to keep his altitude between 50 and 200 feet above the water, and speed of about 30 miles per hour. He stated that the spray runs were about a mile. He was finishing up his 14th takeoff and landing for the day. He said the lake was glassy and that it was difficult to judge his altitude; he then flew into the water and flipped over. He reported no mechanical problems with the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.