Yuma International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Somerton, Arizona 85365
Saturday, May 4, 2013 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, at the time of the accident, he had been awake for about 14 hours. The accident flight occurred about midnight as he was completing his 15th agricultural application to a field in dark night conditions with no moon and a cloud layer. Forward-projecting flood lights had been mounted on the helicopter to illuminate the terrain directly in front of it. The pilot stated that, while in a left turn to align with a narrow field that had a row of power lines running along one side, he applied left cyclic until it hit the stop. The helicopter continued to drift toward the power lines, so he increased the collective and left pedal to maneuver over them. Although the helicopter cleared the power lines, it started to rotate to the right in an uncommanded fashion and subsequently collided with terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failure with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot had accumulated 40 hours of night-time flying experience, and this was his first season being employed as a pilot for agricultural application operations. However, due to his working at a time when he normally would be asleep and a relatively long time since awakening, the pilot was most likely fatigued at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering at a low altitude in dark night conditions, which resulted in collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fatigue due to his working at a time when he normally would be asleep and a relatively long time since awakening and the pilot's lack of total experience in the task environment.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/4/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 12
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Somerton
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85365
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 323547N
Event Location Longitude 1144320W
Event Location Airport Yuma International Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KNLY
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 8.4
Degrees magnetic from airport 234
Airport Elevation 213
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2357 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KNLY
Elevation of weather observation facility 213
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 18000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.73
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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) 32104
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 8 2013 6:43PM
User who most recently changed record mckv
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N911RN
NTSB Number WPR13LA215
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ARROW FALCON EXPORTERS INC
Aircraft Model OH-58A+
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 69-16273
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 27 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6729.3
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MORRIS EQUIPMENT LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 340 W 32ND ST # 413
Aircraft Owner City YUMA
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85364-8128
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Morris Ag Air
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Yuma
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85362
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
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 No
Departure Airport Code KNLY
Departure City Yuma
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2100
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 54AZ
Destination City Somerton
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 16 2013 3:13PM
User who most recently changed record mckv
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --