ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 269623
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| Date: | Monday 15 November 2021 |
| Time: | 10:19 LT |
| Type: |  Bell OH-58A Kiowa |
| Owner/operator: | Edgefield Aviation LLC |
| Registration: | N103WC |
| MSN: | 40304 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8970 hours |
| Engine model: | Rolls Royce C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Molalla, OR -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Sandy , OR |
| Molalla, OR | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter pilot was lifting off with an external load of Christmas trees. As the helicopter climbed above 60 ft above the ground (agl), the pilot reported that he simultaneously heard a change in sound from the engine and felt the helicopter yaw, but could not remember which direction the helicopter yawed. After he released the external load, the helicopter lost altitude and he heard the main rotor speed decay. He initiated an autorotation and raised the collective while maintaining heading in the landing flare. The skids contacted the water-soaked soil and the helicopter rocked nose-low, bounced, and came to rest upright. Subsequently, the main rotor blade struck the tailboom and separated the tail rotor and tail rotor gearbox assembly.
Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. The engine functioned normally during two separate tests and the intermittent operation of the fuel boost pump annunciator light could not be replicated. According to the helicopter manufacturer, under the given conditions, at a gross weight of 2,350 pounds and a height of 50 feet, a hover out of ground effect can be accomplished. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined.
Probable Cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB WPR22LA034
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 15 November 2023 | N103WC | Edgefield Aviation LLC | 0 | Estacada, OR | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Nov-2021 20:13 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 17-Nov-2021 00:29 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 08-Jan-2024 17:22 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Other fatalities, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report] |
| 08-Jan-2024 17:24 | harro | Updated [Cn, Other fatalities, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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