# Accident 20041025029609A: Hughes OH6A, Sells, AZ, October 25, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 25, 2004, 14:25 local time
- Place: Sells, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.0064° N, 111.6542° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0064&lon=-111.6542&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6188L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6188L-2005-02-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes OH-6A (registry code 4470905, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-oh-6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES OH6A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,500 total, 2,940 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05TA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05TA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041025029609A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 LAX05TA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05TA018), Oct 25, 2004: Hughes OH-6A (N6188L), Tucson, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: The 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…

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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