# Accident 20031115027899A: Hughes OH6A, Greenville, SC, November 15, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 2003, 10:15 local time
- Place: Greenville, SC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8419° N, 82.3500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8419&lon=-82.3500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N536, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N536-2022-05-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes OH-6A (registry code 4470905, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-oh-6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES OH6A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 70 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA037) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031115027899A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 15, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 1015 LOCAL, A HUGHES 369-A, REGISTRATION NUMBER N536, HELICOPTER IMPACTED TERRAIN AFTER LOSING THE AFT SECTION OF THE TAIL BOOM. N536, WAS ON A FAR PART 61 TRAINING FLIGHT, AND HAD MOMENTS EARLIER MADE A TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION WHERE A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP (LIKE A 22 CALIBER GUNSHOT). THE CREW STATED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OR FELT ANYTHING UNUSUAL DURING OR AFTER THE AUTOROTATION. THE CLIMB OUT OF N536, WAS NORMAL. AT APPROXIMATELY 50 KNOTS AND 150-200 FOOT AGL THE HELICOPTER BRIEFLY SHUTTERED AND THE AFT SECTION OF THE TAIL BOOM DEPARTED THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER'S FUSELAGE STARTED TO SPIN AND CAME TO REST IN A THICKET OF 25-30 FOOT PINE TREES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE CREW, BUT THE HELICOPTER HAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 ATL04LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA037), Nov 15, 2003: Hughes OH-6A (N536), Greenville, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare, resulting in a hard landing and a main rotor/tailboom strike.

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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