20120327004519A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Garlick Helicopters OH-58C · Mccomb, MS · March 27, 2012

Date: March 27, 2012 · 08:15 local
Place: Mccomb, MS
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: U9QG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N452MC
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA12LA258
Reported as: Garlick Helicopters OH-58C
Reported engine: Allison T63-A-720
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 15,940 total9,640 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days

N452MCRegistration cancelled Dec 11, 2013 · Garlick Helicopters OH-58CS/N 69-16110 · Built 1969 Airframe modelGarlick Helicopters OH-58C Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

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.

Inflight fire occured. The pilot reported shortly after takeoff, while in cruise the helicopter yawed to the left, the cabin filled with smoke, and the engine shutdown. The pilot landed in a field and the fire consumed the helicopter. The initial field inspection revealed the number three turbine wheel failed, and fragments damaged various components.

As the FAA filed it

INFLIGHT FIRE OCCURED. THE PILOT REPORTED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE IN CRUISE THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE LEFT, THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE, AND THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD AND THE FIRE CONSUMED THE HELICOPTER.THE INITIAL FIELD INSPECTION REVEALED THE NUMBER THREE TURBINE WHEEL FAILED, AND FRAGMENTS DAMAGED VARIOUS COMPONENTS.

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 ERA12LA258Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMcComb, MSA total loss of engine power due to oil starvation at the Nos. 5 and 8 engine bearings, which resulted in a catastrophic engine failure.Mar 27, 2012 · Substantial damage