Bell OH-58A accident near Taylorsville, Mississippi, September 24, 2010
On September 24, 2010 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Bell OH-58A (helicopter), registered N132HD, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Taylorsville, Mississippi. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2010 · about 5:45 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Taylorsville, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58A · all OH-58As on the register
- Registration
- N132HD · registry record · serial 72-21264
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter pilot was surveying a field in preparation for aerial application. While he was maneuvering the helicopter about 100 feet above the ground, the engine lost all power without warning. The pilot noticed a space in between the trees and attempted to autorotate to that spot, but the helicopter impacted trees nearby. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed 16 gallons of fuel remained in the helicopter and no fuel contamination was observed. A successful test-run of the engine was subsequently performed. Examination of the fuel boost pump revealed that the inlet shut-off valve arm was bent, which could restrict fuel flow. When power was applied to the pump, it pumped fuel from a bucket; however, it did not appear to pump the fuel at maximum capacity. Further testing was performed utilizing both the bent arm and a replacement stock arm. The test results were similar for both arms, which were both below the pump's flow requirements. The bent arm was re-installed and a third examination was conducted at the pump manufacturer's facility, which revealed that the pump's ring tong terminals and pump cartridge were the incorrect models for the fuel boost pump; however, during the third test, the pump passed flow tests as received, and flow improved when the inlet valve stem assembly and cartridge were replaced. The bent inlet shut-off valve arm and/or incorrect fuel boost pump assembly could have resulted in a total loss of engine power; however, the investigation could not determine what, if any, effect they had on the helicopter at the time of the accident.
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 (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 30, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,030 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 17, 2010; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce T63-A-720 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cahaba Forestry Services
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Taylorsville MS at 5:35 pm
- Destination: NONE Taylorsville MS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from PIB, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on May 2, 2011. 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 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Bell Video of Fuel Boost Pump Test (2MB) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpt from Engine Manufacturer Report of Engine Test Run | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Helicopter Manufacturer Factual Notes of Fuel Boost Pump Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Correspondence from Helicopter Manufacturer | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Excerpts from Pump Manufacturer Report of Fuel Boost Pump Teardown Examination and Tests | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 8 | U.s. Army Technical Bulletin Tb 1-1520-248-20-60 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Evidence Control Forms | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 126 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Accident Photographs | 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.
Other NTSB records under N132HD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N132HD on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Bell OH-58 329 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bell 3,080 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rolls Royce T63-A-720 16 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Mississippi 845 since 1982 · 90 in the last ten years
- Mississippi 2,604 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N132HD 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA10LA499.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.