Bell OH-58A N337PW

Summary

On 14 February 2013 at about 23:00 local time, a Bell OH-58A registered N337PW, operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, was involved in an accident near Pine Springs, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 February 2013 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pine Springs, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.0545, -97.5628

Aircraft

Bell OH-58A

Registration

N337PW

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cornudas → Cornudas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13TA165

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while operating in conditions conducive to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and two passengers were surveying a preplanned transect about 50 to 100 feet above ground level with a 5- to 10-knot left crosswind and an indicated groundspeed of 30 to 35 knots. As the terrain began to rise, the pilot added power to clear a ridge. The pilot reported that, when the helicopter was about 100 feet from the top of the ridge, he heard a " slight pop" and that the helicopter began to yaw to the right. He added power to clear the ridgeline, which greatly increased the right yawing motion, and the helicopter began to spin. He stated that the helicopter crossed over the ridgeline backward and continued to spin before it contacted the ground and rolled over onto its left side. A passenger reported that, although the wind was about 10 knots when they started the survey, the wind speed increased when the helicopter reached the top of the ridge, and the pilot had to correct for it twice before the helicopter began to spin to the right. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter was operating in an environment conducive to the loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE), and the unanticipated right yaw and subsequent spinning of the helicopter are consistent with LTE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.