| Crash location | 38.667778°N, 121.400556°W |
| Nearest city | Sacramento, CA
38.581572°N, 121.494400°W 7.8 miles away |
| Tail number | N916PD |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 04 Dec 2016 |
| Aircraft type | Bell Oh 58A |
| Additional details: | None |
On December 4, 2016, about 2100 Pacific standard time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N916PD, sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer during a flight near Sacramento, California. The helicopter was registered and operated by the City of Sacramento as a public aircraft. The commercial pilot and observer, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, that departed McClellan Airfield, Sacramento, California, about 1920.
The pilot and observer reported noticing the vertical stabilizer damage after the completion of a routine patrol flight, during the post-flight inspection. The vertical stabilizer was bent downwards, away from the tail rotor. The pilot further reported that the flight was flown at a cruise altitude of 600-700 feet above ground level, and no turbulence or any other unusual flying conditions were encountered.
The helicopter's damaged vertical stabilizer was secured at a local storage facility for further examination.