Bell OH-58A accident near N. Little Rock, Arkansas, December 7, 1998
On December 7, 1998 at about 6:28 am local time, a Bell OH-58A (helicopter), registered N900PD, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Little Rock, Arkansas. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing and the dark night light condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1998 · about 6:28 am local time
- Place
- N. Little Rock, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58A · all OH-58As on the register
- Registration
- N900PD · registry record · serial 71-20855
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In dark night conditions, the pilot reported a loss of power at 1000 feet AGL while maneuvering during a routine police flight. During the ensuing emergency descent (autorotation), the pilot maneuvered around a grain elevator and power lines. Just as the pilot pulled on the collective to arrest the rate of descent, a utility pole came into sight at his 12 o'clock position. The main rotor blades struck the pole and the helicopter impacted the ground on its right side. Post-accident examination included an engine run to manufacturer's specifications with the engine in its as removed configuration on the test stand. The tachometer generators were bench tested and the airframe was examined. It was noted that the fuel pump exhibited some leakage, both during the engine test run and a subsequent bench test, however, the engine operated throughout its normal RPM range. No definitive anomalies were revealed that would have contributed to 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,307 hours in all; 146 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,602 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 10, 1998; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T63A720 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1M1 AR at 5:45 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 FTW99TA046.