# Accident 19980731028199A: Hughes TH55A, Elba Island, GA, July 31, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 1998, 09:30 local time
- Place: Elba Island, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LLOG
- Location: 31.9798° N, 81.0807° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9798&lon=-81.0807&mi=10
- Aircraft: N998MC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N998MC-2013-08-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes TH-55A (registry code 4471004, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES TH55A
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,052 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98TA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98TA215) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980731028199A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT FOR CHATHAM COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL COMMISSION (PUBLIC AIRCRAFT), N998MC A TH-55A HELICOPTER CRASHED AFTER PARTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS. ENGINE POWER LOSS CAUSING MAIN ROTOR RPM DROP. PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LA DING AND CRASHED WITH TOTAL LOSS OF AIRCRAFT. NO FIRE AT SITE. NO FATALITIES. M OR D TO BE SUBMITTED BY CHATHAM COUNTY, OWNER/OPERATORS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA98TA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98TA215), Jul 31, 1998: Hughes TH-55A (N998MC), Savannah, GA, destroyed. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, resulting in a forced landing, and an in-flight collision with a ditch. A factor in this accident was a high density altitude.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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