Bell OH-58A N82851
29 March 2023 · Wade, Oklahoma, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 29 March 2023 at about 14:23 local time, a Bell OH-58A registered N82851, operated by Prentice Aviation, Inc, was involved in an accident near Wade, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:23
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wade, Oklahoma, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.8475, -96.1198
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58A
- Registration
- N82851
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 1972
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Prentice Aviation, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN23LA147
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While maneuvering during an aerial application flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot conducted an autorotation to a field. During the autorotation, the helicopter landed hard, rolled over, and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed a foamy cream-colored liquid in the airframe fuel filter and fuel line. The pilot reported that before the accident flight the helicopter was fueled from the operator’s support truck fuel tank. Initial examination of the tank showed no visible signs of fuel contamination. A subsequent visual examination, several days later, showed the same cream-colored contamination that was identified in the helicopter fuel system. The pilot reported that the truck’s fuel tank was filled the day before from his on-site fuel storage tank. The reason for the fuel contamination in the operator’s on-site fuel storage or the helicopter fuel system could not be determined. The loss of engine power was attributed to fuel contamination.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell OH-58A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 2023 | Bell OH-58A | Brawley, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 2023 | Bell OH-58A | Guernsey, California, United States | Blair Helicopter Service | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Feb 2023 | Bell OH-58A | Yuma, Arizona, United States | TRI Rotor Spray & Chemical | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Nov 2023 | Bell OH-58A | Estacada, Oregon, United States | Edgefield Aviation LLC | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 2023 | Bell OH-58A | Blanchard, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 2024 | Bell OH-58A | Hegins, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Mar 2023 | Cessna 170A | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 May 2023 | Beechcraft F33A | Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Jan 2023 | Cessna 150 | Yukon, Oklahoma, United States | Edwards Samuel T | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 2023 | Piper PA-32-301T | Kingfisher, Oklahoma, United States | Engineers Flying Club | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Sep 2023 | Beechcraft A36 | Broken Bow, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | - |
| 26 Dec 2023 | Piper PA-34-200T | Ponca City, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |