# Accident 20080209010439A: Hughes OH6A, Valentine, TX, February 9, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 9, 2008, 11:15 local time
- Place: Valentine, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5886° N, 104.4953° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Valentine, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5886&lon=-104.4953&mi=10
- Aircraft: N66372, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66372-2010-11-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes OH-6A (registry code 4470905, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-oh-6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES OH6A
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,014 total, 254 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080209010439A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON FEBRUARY 9, 2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 1115 CST, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS OPERATING N66372, A HUGHES 500/OH6A, OWNED BY THE US BORDER PATROL SERVICE (USBPS). THE PILOT WAS PATROLLING AN AREA OVER A PRIVATELY OWNED RANCH LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE WEST OF US 90 AND 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF VALENTINE, TEXAS. THE PILOT WAS 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND MANEUVERING ABOUT 20 KNOTS WHEN HE RECEIVED AN N2 WARNING LIGHT AND AURAL WARNING REGARDING THE N2 GOVERNOR. THE PILOT RADIOED "MAYDAY" TO OTHER USBPS PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT LANDING SKID, LEFT SIDE SKIN, THE FLOOR UNDER THE LEFT SEAT, AND TAIL BOOM MOUNT. THE PILOT STATED HE ADDED ADDITIONAL THROTTLE BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. HE CUSHIONED THE IMPACT BY ADDING ADDITIONAL COLLECTIVE. THE TAIL BOOM WAS NOT DAMAGED BY THE ROTOR BLADES. TWO WITNESSES REPORTED A SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS INSPECTED AND THE N2 GOVERNOR LINKAGE WAS NOT CONNECTED. USBPS PERSONNEL STATED THE NUT CONNECTING THE N2 GOVERNOR LINKAGE CAME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER LOSS.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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