# Accident 20161025017069A: Bell OH-58A, Ponce, PR, October 25, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 25, 2016, 15:00 local time
- Place: Ponce, PR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 18.0108° N, 66.5633° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.0108&lon=-66.5633&mi=10
- Aircraft: N161PD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N161PD-2021-01-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH-58A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,800 total, 40 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17CA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA056) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161025017069A

## Narrative

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

WHILE CONDUCTING FLIGHT TRAINING, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED HE WAS DEMONSTRATING A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE ON TAKEOFF. DURING ACCELERATION ON TAXIWAY E AT AROUND 10-15 FEET AGL THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ALTITUDE, SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTING THE GROUND HARD ON THE AFT PORTION OF THE SKIDS BOUNCING FOWARD AND AFT SEVERAL TIMES ON THE GROUND WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND RUN OF APPROXIMATELY 370 FEET, THEN AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY YAWED 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER 180 DEGREE YAW TO THE LEFT BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE HELICOPTER REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE WITH ENGINE AND ROTOR OPERATING. PILOT, THEN, PICKED UP THE AIRCRAFT TO A HOVER AND MADE A 180 DEGREE LEFT PEDAL TURN, THEN ACCELERATED DOWN THE SAME TAXIWAY AND EXECUTED WHAT APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER RUNNING LANDING TO A FULL STOP, REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS, THEN TAXIED TO PARKING AREA.

## 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 ERA17CA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA056), Oct 25, 2016: Bell OH 58A (N161PD), Ponce, PR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The helicopter flight instructor's inadequate demonstration of a simulated engine failure, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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