# Accident 19990907026959A: Hughes OH6A, Hrnando, MS, September 7, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 7, 1999, 11:30 local time
- Place: Hrnando, MS
- Airport: Hernando Village Airpark Inc
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8203° N, 89.9794° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8203&lon=-89.9794&mi=10
- Aircraft: N584SD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N584SD-2020-06-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 369A (registry code 4470503, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES OH6A
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 523 total, 523 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99TA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99TA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990907026959A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1999, AT 1130 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A HUGHES OH6A, N584SD, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHILE ON APPROACH TO A HELIPAD IN HERNHANDO, MISSISSIPPI. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY THE DESOTO COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED.  VISUAL WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.  THE PUBLIC USE FLIGHT EXACT DEPARTURE TIME FROM HERNANDO, MISSISSIPPI, WAS NOT DETERMINED.  REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, WAS CONDUCTING PROFICIENCY TRAINING, AND WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND WHEN THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE RIGHT.  THE PILOT INSTANTLY ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.  NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE HELICOPTER BY THE PILOT.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     (.4)THE PILOT, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WAS CONDUCTING PROFICIENCY TRAINING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD COMPLETED THREE APPROACHES AND WAS ON THE FOURTH APPROACH WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A DUST DEVIL ALONG THE APPROACH PATH. AFTER ENCOUNTERING THE DUST DEVIL, WHEN SEVERAL FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE RIGHT. IN AN EFFORT TO RECOVER FROM THE YAWED CONDITION, THE PILOT INSTANTLY ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THE HELICOPTER BY THE PILOT. THE POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER ALSO DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM.

## 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 ATL99TA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99TA126), Sep 7, 1999: Hughes OH-6A (N584SD), Hernando, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight encounter with weather that resulted in the loss of tail rotor control. The pilot failed to maintain directional control and the helicopter collided with the ground.

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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