Bell OH-58 accident near Greensburg, Louisiana, February 22, 2021
On February 22, 2021 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1971 Bell OH-58 (helicopter), registered N902LP, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Greensburg, Louisiana. It was a public-use flight (local) under public-use (government) rules. 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control and terrain clearance while hovering, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 2021 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Greensburg, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58 C, built 1971 · all OH-58s on the register
- Registration
- N902LP · no longer on the register · serial 71-20374
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that he lifted off in the helicopter to “about a 2-3” ft hover above the flat grassy field into the wind. The helicopter then “rolled hard to the right and rear,” the pilot attempted to arrest the lateral rolling motion by putting the collective to the full down position and applying full left cyclic input. The pilot reported the right rear skid contacted the ground, which caused a dynamic rollover. The helicopter came to rest on its right side, the pilot performed an emergency shutdown, and the occupants egressed from the helicopter without further incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the fuselage, and the tail rotor system. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Dynamic rollover during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,922 hours in all; 1,875 in this make and model; 1,922 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 11, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 69 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 9, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T63-A720 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KHDC, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHDC 221955Z AUTO 34008KT 10SM CLR 21/03 A3014 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 13, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Additional Documents | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.