Bell OH 58A accident near Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, September 24, 2018
On September 24, 2018 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1972 Bell OH 58A (helicopter), registered N206WH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico (Mercedita airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2018 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico · Mercedita · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH 58A No Series, built 1972 · all OH 58As on the register
- Registration
- N206WH · no longer on the register · serial 72-21362
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 1 month before the accident flight, the helicopter, which had not been flown in about 7 years, was fueled with about 40 gallons of fuel, of which 3 gallons were drained to remove potential contamination. The helicopter was flown 1.8 hours between the fueling and the accident flight. There was no record of additional fuel being added between those flights and the accident flight. About 15 minutes after departing on the accident flight, between 500 and 1,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine lost total power. The pilot performed an autorotation and landed on level, soft terrain, the helicopter tipped forward onto the nose, and the pilot applied aft cyclic to correct. The main rotor blades impacted the tailboom, severing it from the helicopter, and the main rotor transmission and rotor head separated from the mount. The helicopter was not recovered and could not be examined after the accident. The amount of fuel onboard at the time of departure could not be determined. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,530 hours in all; 200.3 in this make and model; 28.1 in the last 90 days; 11.6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 9, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 303.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2018; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,590 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce T63-A-700 (turboshaft); 2,578 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TJPS Ponce PR at 9:15 pm
- Destination: TJPS Ponce PR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft; a few clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from JPS, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 15, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation_faa and Rolls Royce | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memo for Record_ Fuel Burn | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records Excerpt | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array_accident Site and Helicopter Damage | PDF, 1 page | 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.