Bell OH-58C accident near Brawley, California, January 19, 2000
On January 19, 2000, a Bell OH-58C (helicopter), registered N436SD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brawley, California. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fuel system contamination that resulted in a loss of engine power during aerial application and a subsequent collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 2000
- Place
- Brawley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58C · all OH-58Cs on the register
- Registration
- N436SD · registry record · serial 70-15436
- 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 was engaged in agricultural aerial application. During a swath run over a field it descended and hit the ground. The post crash inspection revealed contaminants in the fuel system. Lack of engine rotational signatures were also noted. The source of the fuel contamination was not identified.
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
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,997 hours in all; 397 in this make and model; 208 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,735 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, December 2, 1999; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,451 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 SER (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brawley CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from IPL, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.