Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Roswell, New Mexico 88201
Saturday, July 10, 2010 6:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 630
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Roswell
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88201
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333928N
Event Location Longitude 1041842W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 651 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 205
Weather Observation Facility ID ROW
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KROW 101251Z 11003KT 10SM FEW060 21/19 A3017
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27325
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 16 2010 2:13PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N415NS
NTSB Number CEN10CA395
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model OH-58A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 72-21415
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 6 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 83
Airframe Hours 12168
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTH STAR HELICOPTERS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 963 HYW 63 WEST
Aircraft Owner City JASPER
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75951
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name NORTH STAR HELICOPTERS INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 963 HYW 63 WEST
Operator City JASPER
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 75951
Operator Code KFZG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number KFZG571F
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Roswell
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Roswell
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 4 2010 1:17PM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --