Bell OH-58 and Bell OH-58A accident near Altadena, California, November 17, 2012
On November 17, 2012 at about 11:58 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Bell OH-58 (N911FA) and Bell OH-58A (N96BM), were involved in the same accident near Altadena, California (Pasadena Pd Heliport airport). 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The landing pilot's failure to maintain clearance with from obstacles a parked prior to landinghelicopter and the other pilot's failure to park the helicopter inside of a marked parking pad. Contributing to the accident was the landing pilot's obscured visibility due to moisture on the windscreenAlso contributing to the accident was the other pilot's action of placing the helicopter outside of a marked parking pad.
The landing pilot's failure to maintain clearance with from obstacles a parked prior to landinghelicopter and the other pilot's failure to park the helicopter inside of a marked parking pad. Contributing to the accident was the landing pilot's obscured visibility due to moisture on the windscreenAlso contributing to the accident was the other pilot's action of placing the helicopter outside of a marked parking pad.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2012 · about 11:58 pm local time
- Place
- Altadena, California · Pasadena Pd Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Bell OH-58 · all OH-58s on the register
- Registration
- N911FA · no longer on the register · serial 70-15152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
- Aircraft 2
- Bell OH-58A · all OH-58As on the register
- Registration
- N96BM · registry record · serial 72-21364
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative for the Bell OH-58 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot had conducted traffic evaluation flights earlier in the day. After conferring with her lieutenant, she decided to attempt another flight with the understanding that she would return if the weather was not good. She departed, and after a few minutes, returned to the heliport to land due to deteriorating weather. While the helicopter was airborne, another pilot had moved a helicopter out of the hangar and parked outside of the marked parking pad area designated as "Pad 1." He later stated that he parked outside the pad because of drainage issues and that he was not on the radios because he would be off the ground in a couple of minutes and he did not believe there would be a conflict. The pilot had started the engine and begun the start-up sequence. Upon return to the heliport, the pilot of the landing helicopter scouted the landing area to make sure it was clear. The pilot observed the other helicopter parked near the parking pad, but due to rain on the windshield, she was not able to determine whether the helicopter was inside or outside of the marked box or if the main rotor blades were turning. The landing pilot stated that, as a result of the rain on her windscreen and side windows, she was looking straight ahead and using the chin window and her periphery to land inside the box. She radioed her intention to land and received no response. She then made the approach to the main pad, assuming that the other helicopter was inside the box for Pad 1, and then hover-taxied toward the adjacent parking pad (Pad 2). She was focused on her landing pad area, and as she lowered the collective to land on Pad 2, the pilot did not confirm adequate clearance, and the main rotor blades of the landing helicopter contacted the main rotor blades of the parked helicopter. At the time of the accident, there was no established monitored UNICOM frequency at the heliport, and there were no procedures to alert ground personnel that a helicopter was arriving to the heliport other than by ground personnel "hearing" it approach. The pilot in the parked helicopter had not turned on his radios, and the pilots were not in communication with each other at the time of the accident. As a result of the accident, the air division established monitored UNICOM and radio procedures for arrival and departure of helicopters at the heliport.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Bell OH-58A final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot had conducted traffic evaluation flights earlier in the day. After conferring with her lieutenant, she decided to attempt another flight with the understanding that she would return if the weather was not good. She departed, and after a few minutes, returned to the heliport to land due to deteriorating weather. While the helicopter was airborne, another pilot had moved a helicopter out of the hangar and parked outside of the marked parking pad area designated as "Pad 1." He later stated that he parked outside the pad because of drainage issues and that he was not on the radios because he would be off the ground in a couple of minutes and he did not believe there would be a conflict. The pilot had started the engine and begun the start-up sequence. Upon return to the heliport, the pilot of the landing helicopter scouted the landing area to make sure it was clear. The pilot observed the other helicopter parked near the parking pad, but due to rain on the windshield, she was not able to determine whether the helicopter was inside or outside of the marked box or if the main rotor blades were turning. The landing pilot stated that, as a result of the rain on her windscreen and side windows, she was looking straight ahead and using the chin window and her periphery to land inside the box. She radioed her intention to land and received no response. She then made the approach to the main pad, assuming that the other helicopter was inside the box for Pad 1, and then hover-taxied toward the adjacent parking pad (Pad 2). She was focused on her landing pad area, and as she lowered the collective to land on Pad 2, the pilot did not confirm adequate clearance, and the main rotor blades of the landing helicopter contacted the main rotor blades of the parked helicopter. At the time of the accident, there was no established monitored UNICOM frequency at the heliport, and there were no procedures to alert ground personnel that a helicopter was arriving to the heliport other than by ground personnel "hearing" it approach. The pilot in the parked helicopter had not turned on his radios, and the pilots were not in communication with each other at the time of the accident. As a result of the accident, the air division established monitored UNICOM and radio procedures for arrival and departure of helicopters at the heliport.
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 for the Bell OH-58 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot of other aircraft
- factor Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Airport communication › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,200 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 11, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,239 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 15, 2012
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C20 MM (turboshaft); 7,767 hours total
- Operator: Pasadena Police Department
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Altadena CA at 11:52 pm
- Destination: N/A Altadena CA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:47 pm from EMT, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Bell OH-58A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,065 hours in all; 725 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 20, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,769 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 12, 2012
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C20 MM (turboshaft); 3,102 hours total
- Operator: Pasadena Police Department
The flight
- Departed from: NA Altadena CA
- Destination: NA Altadena CA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 WPR13GA044.