N497E — Bell OH-58A
Active registrationChecked against FAA & NTSB records · as of Jul 25, 2026
N497E appears in 1 NTSB accident record (most recent 2014, no injuries). Registration and accident data compiled from public FAA and NTSB records as of Jul 25, 2026.
Aircraft record
- Serial number
- 69-16375
- Manufacturer
- Bell
- Model
- OH-58A
- Category
- Rotorcraft
- Registration
- Active
- Registered to
- Kern County Sheriffs Department — Bakersfield, CA
Accident & incident history
The pilot's decision to attempt a mission at night with known en route weather conditions below operating minimums, likely due to self-induced pressure, and then continue flight beyond the alternate landing airport as weather conditions deteriorated, which resulted in the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's fatigue, his failure to recognize that mist had formed on the inner surface of the windshield, his complacency due to the effectiveness of the night vision goggles, and his failure to use the radar altimeter.
Registration timeline
Ownership and registration events for this airframe (the Bell OH-58A).
- Jul 24, 1997registered — Kern County Sheriffs Department
Frequently asked
- Has N497E been in an accident?
- Yes. N497E appears in 1 NTSB accident record, the most recent in 2014.
- What kind of aircraft is N497E?
- N497E is a Bell OH-58A (rotorcraft), serial number 69-16375.
- Who is N497E registered to?
- N497E is registered to Kern County Sheriffs Department of Bakersfield, CA. Registration status: active.
The full N497E report
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