On 14 May 2020, a BELL OH-58C operated by Air One Mobility Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Livingston, NY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while maneuvering at low altitude at night, which resulted in the helicopter striking a tree. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter struck a tree while maneuvering at low altitude at night, then spun right, impacted terrain, and rolled onto its side. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; the pilot reported no mechanical failures.
Accident Details
The pilot of a helicopter reported that the accident occurred while the aircraft was being maneuvered at a low altitude of approximately 150 feet above ground level during nighttime conditions. While maneuvering, the helicopter struck a tree. After striking the tree, the helicopter began spinning to the right. That spinning motion continued until the helicopter impacted the terrain. Upon impacting the ground, the helicopter rolled over onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its tail-boom and fuselage as a result of the accident. The pilot further reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.