20041025029609A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Hughes OH-6A · Sells, AZ · October 25, 2004

Date: October 25, 2004 · 14:25 local
Place: Sells, AZ
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N6188L
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX05TA018
Reported as: Hughes OH6A
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,500 total2,940 in this make and model65 in the last 90 days

N6188LRegistration cancelled Feb 16, 2005 · Hughes OH-6AS/N 68-17297 Airframe modelHughes OH-6A

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On October 25, 2004, N6188L, a border patrol OH-6 helicopter was hovering at approximately 50 feet during a routine search when the engine quit. The pilot stated that he did not have enough altitude to adequately autorotate resulting in destroying the ship. The engine and some components were shipped back to the factory for further investigation.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON OCTOBER 25, 2004, N6188L, A BORDER PATROL OH-6 HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET DURING A ROUTINE SEARCH WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO ADEQUATELY AUTOROTATE RESULTING IN DESTROYING THE SHIP. THE ENGINE AND SOME COMPONENTS WERE SHIPPED BACK TO THE FACTORY FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX05TA018Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportTucson, AZThe loss of engine power due to a fatigue fracture of the PC line from the governor to fuel control, resulting from fretting damage induced by excessive vibration, which was due to the failure of maintenance personnel to install the proper bearings in the…Oct 25, 2004 · Destroyed