Bell OH-58A accident near Ruskin, Florida, December 7, 2003
On December 7, 2003 at about 8:41 pm local time, a Bell OH-58A (helicopter), registered N62939, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ruskin, Florida (Vandenberg Airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to undertermined reasons which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 2003 · about 8:41 pm local time
- Place
- Ruskin, Florida · Vandenberg Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58A · all OH-58As on the register
- Registration
- N62939 · no longer on the register · serial 72-21449
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was dispatched on a routine police call and was circling at 500 feet above ground level when the second pilot felt a reduction in engine power and noted a split in the rotor and turbine tachometers. After the throttle position was checked, the pilot-in-command realized that there was a reduction in engine power as the engine rpm went to idle. The pilot lowered the collective to enter an autorotation descent at 60 knots. The helicopter collided with the ground in a marshy area with a tail low attitude. The engine continued to run at idle power until the crew shut down the engine using the throttle and fuel valve handle. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident. Examination of accident site revealed the wreckage crashed in a densely vegetated and marshy area, three miles east of Ruskin, Florida and 18 miles south of Tampa, Florida. Examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the bottom of the fuselage, one main rotor blade was severed three and a half feet from blade-retaining bolt, both pitch change links fractured, the tail boom severed just forward of the horizontal stabilizers, one tail rotor blade was bent 90-degrees near the root of blade and the lower leading edge of the aft vertical fin was damaged. It was also noted that the engine to transmission drive shaft exhibited a bend of 10-degrees. Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies in the general physical condition and security of the engine as it was mounted in the accident helicopter. King Laboratories in Tampa, Florida tested the fuel samples both from the helicopter and the tank from which the helicopter was refueled. The samples were determined to be in compliance with the standards established for Jet A fuel. The first five attempts to preform a functional test-run of the engine were unsuccessful and the original fuel control was replaced. On the sixth attempt, the engine ran without issue. The power turbine governor and fuel control were bench tested at the Honeywell facility and no pre-existing conditions were identified that would have prevented normal operation in either assembly. An additional engine run with the original controls installed was performed at the Rolls-Royce plant and the engine ran without irregularities and nearly to performance standards for new production engines.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,119 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 12, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,250 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 12, 2003
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,871.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 28, 2003; 44.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T63-A-720 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KVDF Tampa FL at 8:15 pm
- Destination: Ruskin FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KTPA, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.