Bell OH-58 accident near Pottsboro, Texas, March 27, 2021
On March 27, 2021 at about 10:25 pm local time, a 1972 Bell OH-58 (helicopter), registered N1045C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Pottsboro, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter when it encountered an unanticipated wind allowing it to drift into a fence and subsequently roll over and impact terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2021 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Pottsboro, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58, built 1972 · all OH-58s on the register
- Registration
- N1045C · registry record · serial 71-20527
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while in a hover and preparing to land in a field, wind caught the turbine-powered helicopter causing it to drift into a fence. The helicopter’s skid caught on the fence and the helicopter flipped over onto its right side, impacting terrain, and coming to rest on a driveway. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom, fuselage, and main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. About 30 minutes before the accident, an automated weather reporting station located about 6 miles south of the accident side, reported wind from 220o at 6 knots.
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
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
- Roll over during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T63-A-700 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sherman TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from KGYI, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 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.
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.