MIA96TA221

Factual narrative

On September 3, 1996, a Bell OH-58A, N160SA, registered to the State of Alabama, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 public-use instructional flight, crashed on takeoff to a hover in the vicinity of Wetumpka, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating from the Wetumpka Municipal Airport at the time of the accident. The student pilot stated they had considerable rain in the local area, and the grassy area that he was taking off from was soft. He increased collective pitch, the left skid came off the ground, and the helicopter started to roll to the right. The main rotor blades collided with the ground, as he was applying full left cyclic and lowering the collective pitch to the full down position. The helicopter rocked to the left and came to rest upright on its skids. The student pilot was attempting a takeoff to a hover from soft terrain. The left skid came off the ground, and the helicopter started to roll to the right. The main rotor blades collided with the ground, as the student pilot applied full left cyclic and lowered the collective pitch to the full down position. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12