# Accident 20100728039219A: Garlick Hel OH-58A+, Newport, TN, July 28, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 28, 2010, 08:05 local time
- Place: Newport, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 35.9700° N, 83.1900° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9700&lon=-83.1900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N48LA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48LA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+ (registry code 3740006, https://openairdocs.org/model/garlick-helicopters-oh-58a-plus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GARLICK HEL OH-58A+
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 400 total, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA379) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100728039219A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS INCREASING ROTOR BLADE PITCH WHILE IN THE TAKE-OFF PHASE OF FLIGHT.  WHILE  STILL ON THE GROUND, HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A ROTOR BLADE FAILURE.  APPROXIMATELY A TWO FOOT SECTION OF THE RED BLADE TIP SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE; THIS SEPARATION CREATED AN IMBALANCE OF THE ROTOR SYSTEM.  THE IMBALANCE CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO PITCH UP, FORCING THE TAIL ROTOR INTO THE GROUND. WITH THE HELICOPTER IN A PITCH UP ATTITUDE, THE ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE FUSELAGE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE COCKPIT SECTION. THE IMBALANCE WAS OF SUFFICENT MAGNITUDE AS TO CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION AND ROTOR HEAD ASSEMBLY TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS.  THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED.  NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT.

## 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 ERA10LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA379), Jul 28, 2010: Garlick Helicopters OH-58A+ (N48LA), Newport, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate maintenance inspections of the main rotor blade inertia screw holes, which resulted in a main rotor blade failure due to fatigue. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate…

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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