# Accident 20020414006059A: Hughes OH-6, Tampa, FL, April 14, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 14, 2002, 15:45 local time
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.8500° N, 82.5250° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8500&lon=-82.5250&mi=10
- Aircraft: N56TP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56TP-2003-07-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes OH-6 (registry code 4470904, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-oh-6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02TA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02TA083) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020414006059A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON APRIL 14, 2002, AT 1545 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME A HUGHES OH-6 HELICOPTER, N56TP, REGISTERED TO THE CITY OF TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT AS PUBLIC USE, AND OPERATED BY THE COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER PILOT, COLLIDED WITH WATER NEAR THE SOUTH EDGE OF MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, TAMPA, FLORIDA. THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL PATROL FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT 1515.     ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE ON ROUTINE PATROL AROUND THE MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, HE LOST TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS AND EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING.  UPON IMPACT WITH THE WATER THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO IT SIDE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, THE BELLY OF THE HELICOPTER AND THE TAIL BOOM.                                                                     (-23) TAMPA PD HELICOPTER DEPARTED TPA @ APPROX 15:30L TO DO ROUTINE PATROL OF MACDILL AFB PERIMETER. AT APPROX 1545L TAMPA TOWER RECEIVED MESSAGE THA T THE HELICOPTER HAD CRASHED IN THE WATER WEST OF MACDILL AFB MARINA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH EDGE OF THE BASE WEST OF THE MACDILL MARINA. THE PILOT AND OBSERVER WERE EXTRACTED TO TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES, THEN RELEASED.

## 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 ATL02TA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02TA083), Apr 14, 2002: Hughes OH-6A (N56TP), Tampa, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper planning/decision to conduct an out of ground effect hover in a tailwind environment, which resulted in the loss of tail rotor effectiveness and the subsequent in-flight…

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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