Arrow Aircraft Co. OH-58A accident near Calipatria, California, March 8, 2000
On March 8, 2000 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Arrow Aircraft Co. OH-58A (helicopter), registered N39FA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calipatria, California (Cliff Hatfield Memorial). 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
The pilot's inadequate checklist procedure prior to departure, which did not verify the fuel selector was in the proper position for flight, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed for an autorotative landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2000 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Calipatria, California · Cliff Hatfield Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Arrow Aircraft Co. OH-58A
- Registration
- N39FA · registry record · serial 71-20660
- 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 took off to the south and began a climb. Upon reaching about 60 feet above the ground, the helicopter lost power. At this time the helicopter was approaching power lines and the pilot used cyclic to climb over them. After clearing the wires, the pilot attempted an autorotative landing but there was insufficient main rotor speed to cushion the landing. The helicopter impacted the ground and the main rotor flexed severing the tail boom.
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: 13,200 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 10, 1999
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,685 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce T63A720 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLR Calipatria CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: CLR Calipatria CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,440 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from IPL
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.