BELL OH-58C
Osceola County, FL, December 15, 2008
Event Information
| Date | December 15, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| Location | Osceola County, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 28.28472, -81.28889 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
| NTSB Number | ERA09CA090 |
| Event ID | 20081216X01041 |
Aircraft
| Make | BELL |
| Model | OH-58C |
| Registration # | N659HA |
| Operator | Helicopter Applicators, Inc. |
| Owner | Helicopter Applicators, Inc. |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 137 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's misjudgment of altitude during low-altitude spraying operations, which resulted in an in-flight collision with water.
Full Narrative
The helicopter pilot stated that he was spraying pesticide over a lake, adding that weather conditions were overcast skies and calm winds. He was spraying from east to west and west to east, and trying to keep his altitude between 50 and 200 feet above the water, and speed of about 30 miles per hour. He stated that the spray runs were about a mile. He was finishing up his 14th takeoff and landing for the day. He said the lake was glassy and that it was difficult to judge his altitude; he then flew into the water and flipped over. He reported no mechanical problems with the helicopter.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.