Bell OH-58C accident near Riverdale, California, January 8, 2013
On January 8, 2013 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Bell OH-58C (helicopter), registered N911PT, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Riverdale, California. 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
A flight control malfunction while maneuvering for reasons that could not be determined because it was not possible to establish whether observed damage to the flight control assembly was the result of wreckage recovery efforts or a preexisting condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2013 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Riverdale, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58C · all OH-58Cs on the register
- Registration
- N911PT · no longer on the register · serial 71-20356
- 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 pilot was conducting agricultural spray operations when he experienced a flight control system anomaly that was described as a right rolling tendency. The pilot increased altitude in an effort to return to the operator's base for repairs. The helicopter became progressively difficult to control, continuing to roll right and not fully responding to left cyclic control inputs, and the pilot maneuvered to a nearby company loader to land. However, the right rolling tendency continued and the helicopter subsequently collided with terrain. Postaccident examination of the flight control assembly revealed that the gas producer throttle control cable, which is routed adjacent to the connecting linkage push-pull tubes, was entwined with the push-pull tubes. A section of the cable appeared to be pinched between the lower mixing lever unit and the tunnel partition wall. Multiple nylon loop cable clamps, used to secure the throttle cable to the vertical tunnel partition, were broken and separated; however, it was not possible to determine whether the observed damage was the result of the wreckage recovery efforts or a preexisting condition.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 30,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 30,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,443 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 2012; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce T63 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Blair Helicopter Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: Riverdale CA at 8:35 pm
- Destination: Riverdale CA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 2 knots, gusting 2
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.