What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On Wednesday, may 29, 2002, instructor pilot martin bronisz and student arthur litzinger were conducting training in a OH-6A helicopter at milligans field, Evans, NY. They were performing a normal approach to the center of the west runway when at 60 knots, and approximately 75-100 feet above the ground, the aircraft lost power and yawed to the left. The instructor immediately took the controls and performed an auto-rotation. The helicopter skidded approximately 50 feet on the south side of the runway and struck a ditch. The main rotor struck the tailboom, cutting it into several pieces. The aircraft sustained severe damage. Both crewmembers received minor injuries. This incident is considered closed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2002, INSTRUCTOR PILOT MARTIN BRONISZ AND STUDENT ARTHUR LITZINGER WERE CONDUCTING TRAINING IN A OH-6A HELICOPTER AT MILLIGANS FIELD, EVANS, NY. THEY WERE PERFORMING A NORMAL APPROACH TO THE CENTER OF THE WEST RUNWAY WHEN AT 60 KNOTS, AND APPROXIMATELY 75-100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AND YAWED TO THE LEFT. THE INSTRUCTOR IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CONTROLS AND PERFORMED AN AUTO-ROTATION. THE HELICOPTER SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A DITCH. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAILBOOM, CUTTING IT INTO SEVERAL PIECES. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE. BOTH CREWMEMBERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THIS INCIDENT IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.