Bell OH-58A accident near Phoenix, Arizona, September 3, 2026
On September 3, 2026 at about 4:32 pm local time, a 1970 Bell OH-58A (helicopter), registered N480FT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Phoenix, Arizona. It was an instructional 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2026 · about 4:32 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58A, built 1970 · all OH-58As on the register
- Registration
- N480FT · registry record · serial 70-15464
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 3, 2026, about 0932 mountain standard time, a Bell OH-58, N480FT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Deer Valley, Arizona. The pilots did not sustain any injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The helicopter instructor reported he and a pilot-rated student departed from Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona to practice approaches, hovering autorotations, and autorotations with a power recovery in the local area. After completing the approaches and a hovering autorotation without incident, the instructor landed the helicopter and briefed the student about the autorotation with a power recovery procedure. Shortly after, the instructor and the student both demonstrated a successful autorotation with a power recovery. With the instructor on the controls and the helicopter about 500 ft above the ground (agl) and 70 knots indicating, the instructor initiated the third autorotation. The instructor noted that the entry was smooth and announced the main rotor rpm settled around 100% and that the N1 needle was around 62%, at idle engine power. About 200 ft agl and 60 knots, the instructor rolled the throttle to full power and joined the rotor rpm needle with the engine's rpm needle. As the helicopter crossed about 50 ft agl, the instructor initiated a flare and about 10-15 ft agl, he applied slight aft cyclic to slow the descent rate and terminate the recovery to a 3-5 ft agl hover. During the aft pitch control input, the low rotor RPM warning horn became audible and the instructor noted that he did not receive an engine response after he increased the throttle setting. The instructor quickly raised the collective lever to cushion the landing; however, the helicopter continued its descent and impacted terrain. Subsequently, the main rotor system separated from the mast and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, main rotor system, and drive train. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,336.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 2026; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Dillon Flight Test INC
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 3:58 pm
- Destination: SDL Scottdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from KDVT, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDVT 031553Z 20008KT 10SM CLR 31/18 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP111 T03110183
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 WPR26LA328.