# Accident 20011125031789A: Hughes OH6A, Hernando, MS, November 25, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 25, 2001, 16:00 local time
- Place: Hernando, MS
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8207° N, 89.9805° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8207&lon=-89.9805&mi=10
- Aircraft: N129BC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N129BC-2016-11-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes OH-6A (registry code 4470905, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-oh-6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 317HP (registry code 03011, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-317hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES OH6A
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C10D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 95 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA029) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011125031789A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING AUTO ROTATION TO GROUND, INSTRUCTOR PILOT NOTICED AIRCRAFT DESCENDING TOO RAPIDLY BUT COULD NOT RECOVER IN TIME. (.4) ON NOVEMBER 25, 2001, ABOUT 1600 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A HUGHES OH-6A HELICOPTER, N129BC, REGISTERED TO, AND OPERATED BY THE DESOTO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AS TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, MADE A HARD LANDING AT A PRIVATE FIELD IN HERNANDO, MISSISSIPPI. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE STUDENT PILOT, AND THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT-RATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WERE NOT INJURED, AND THE HELICOPTER INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM HERNANDO, MISSISSIPPI, THE SAME DAY, ABOUT 1610. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS AND DURING THE LAST AUTOROTATION THE STUDENT WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT THE AIRSPEED ON FINAL WAS 70 KNOTS, AND THAT THE STUDENT FLARED THE HELICOPTER AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 65 FEET, AND APPLIED INITIAL COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL INPUT AT ABOUT 10 FEET, LEVELING THE HELICOPTER. HE SAID THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 2 FEET HIGH, AND STILL MOVING FORWARD, AND AT THAT POINT THE STUDENT DID NOT                         LET THE HELICOPTER SETTLE TO THE GROUND, BUT CONTINUED TO APPLY COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL INPUT. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE STOPPED THE STUDENT FROM APPLYING COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL INPUT, AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO DESCEND, BUT THE STUDENT APPLIED AFT CYCLIC CONTROL INPUT, AND THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND ON THE HEELS OF THE SKIDS, WHILE MAIN ROTOR RPMS WERE LOW. HE SAID THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM, SEVERING THE TAIL JUST FORWARD OF THE TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX. ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THERE WERE NO FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS TO THE HELICOPTER, OR ANY OF ITS SYSTEMS.

## 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 MIA02LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA029), Nov 25, 2001: Hughes OH-6A (N129BC), Hernando, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's improper supervision of the dual student during a practice autorotation landing by allowing an excessive aft pitch attitude and low main rotor rpm conditions to develop during…

## Other reports on N129BC (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19950721019269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950721019269A), Jul 21, 1995: Hughes OH6A (N129BC), Panama City, FL, Substantial damage. Rocked forward and backwards on landing during practice autorotation. Main rotors struck the tailboom.

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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