Bell OH-58A N415NS

Summary

On 10 July 2010 at about 12:30 local time, a Bell OH-58A registered N415NS, operated by North Star Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Roswell, New Mexico, 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

10 July 2010 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Roswell, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

33.6578, -104.3117

Aircraft

Bell OH-58A

Registration

N415NS

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

North Star Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Roswell → Roswell

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10CA395

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

In a statement provided by the pilot, during the aerial application flight the helicopter pilot scouted the application area for transmission wires. He noted their locations and began to disperse the applicant. The pilot reported that while flying east the rising sun momentarily disoriented him, resulting in a collision with a transmission wire. The pilot performed a forced landing to an open area. An inspection of the helicopter revealed damage to the main rotor pitch change links and swash plate. The pilot confirmed that there were no malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.