No fatalities

BELL OH-58A accident at Estacada, OR, 15 Nov 2023

Estacada, OR, United States

On November 15, 2023, a BELL OH-58A operated by EDGEFIELD AVIATION LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Estacada, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an external load operation, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor blades impacting the tail boom. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an external load operation, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor blades impacting the tail boom.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotPerformance/control parameters — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 15 Nov 2023 BELL OH-58A accident near Estacada, OR?

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an external load operation, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor blades impacting the tail boom.

Were there any fatalities in the 15 Nov 2023 BELL OH-58A accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 15 Nov 2023 involved a BELL OH-58A, operated by EDGEFIELD AVIATION LLC, at Estacada, OR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during an external load operation, which resulted in the helicopter’s main rotor blades impacting the tail boom.