Bell OH-58C — registry & accident history
Compiled from FAA & NTSB records · as of Jul 18, 2026
There are 222 Bell OH-58C airframes on record (built 1968–2013), 90 currently registered. 13 have one or more NTSB accident records (13 records total, 2 with a fatal highest-injury classification). Data as of Jul 18, 2026.
Recent Bell OH-58C accidents
The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control and terrain clearance while hovering, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while maneuvering at low altitude at night, which resulted in the helicopter striking a tree.
The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a simulated forced landing autorotation, which resulted in pylon whirl that substantially damaged the helicopter.
A partial loss of engine power during an aerial application flight due to thermal damage to the 1st stage gas producer turbine nozzle and an irregular fuel spray pattern due to carbon buildup of the fuel nozzle. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel's inadequate inspection of the fuel nozzle.
The pilot's failure to fully open the throttle before initiating the power recovery in response to a simulated engine failure.
An in-flight failure of a main rotor blade due to fatigue cracks. Contributing to the failure of the main rotor blade was the absence of guidance to the operator to inspect an area of the main rotor blade known to be susceptible to fatigue cracks and the accident helicopter type certificate holder’s lack of information of an existing inspection published by another restricted-category type certificate holder of the same model helicopter.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power line during low reconnaissance flight, which resulted in a power line strike, loss of control, and a subsequent hard landing.
The pilot’s failure to assess and compensate for the landing surface, which included high grass and loose dirt.