Bell OH-58A accident near Wade, Oklahoma, March 29, 2023
On March 29, 2023 at about 2:23 pm local time, a 1972 Bell OH-58A (helicopter), registered N82851, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Wade, Oklahoma. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2023 · about 2:23 pm local time
- Place
- Wade, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58A, built 1972 · all OH-58As on the register
- Registration
- N82851 · registry record · serial 72-21118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While maneuvering during an aerial application flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot conducted an autorotation to a field. During the autorotation, the helicopter landed hard, rolled over, and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed a foamy cream-colored liquid in the airframe fuel filter and fuel line. The pilot reported that before the accident flight the helicopter was fueled from the operator’s support truck fuel tank. Initial examination of the tank showed no visible signs of fuel contamination. A subsequent visual examination, several days later, showed the same cream-colored contamination that was identified in the helicopter fuel system. The pilot reported that the truck’s fuel tank was filled the day before from his on-site fuel storage tank. The reason for the fuel contamination in the operator’s on-site fuel storage or the helicopter fuel system could not be determined. The loss of engine power was attributed to fuel contamination.
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 engine power (total) during maneuvering
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Fuel contamination during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 33,100 hours in all; 12,000 in this make and model; 31,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,010 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T63 SERIES (turboshaft); 8,546 hours total
- Operator: Prentice Aviation, Inc
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 am from KDUA, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDUA 291415Z AUTO 11004KT 10SM SCT120 10/02 A3028 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA147.