# Accident 20200108007629A: Hughes OH-6A, Preston, GA, January 8, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 8, 2020, 13:39 local time
- Place: Preston, GA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.9625° N, 84.5275° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9625&lon=-84.5275&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6186U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6186U-2020-04-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes OH-6A (registry code 4470905, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-oh-6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES OH-6A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200108007629A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 8, 2020, A HUGHES OH-6A, N6186U, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT AUTOROTATION NEAR PRESTON, GEORGIA.  THE PILOT AND 1 CREW MEMBER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND BOTH WERE HOSPITALIZED.  THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND WAS CURRENTLY BEING OPERATED AS PUBLIC USE.  THE PILOT REPORTED DURING NORMAL OPERATION A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ROTOR RPM.  THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARDS AN OPEN FIELD AWAY FROM TREES.  THE PILOT NOTED HE CHECKED ENGINE THROTTLE AND INCREASED ENGINE BEEP TO MAX BUT CONTINUALLY WAS LOSING POWER.  ONCE APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET FROM THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO MORE LIFT AND HAD LITTLE FORWARD SPEED.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND AND BEGAN TO SHAKE ITSELF APART INCLUDING THE MAIN ROTORS AND TAIL BOOM.  THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE AIRCRAFT HAD PROBLEMS STARTING.  THE PILOT LATER STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS HAVING ISSUES AND LANDED.  OPERATIONS WERE SUSPENDED UNTIL A MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT IT.  THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT A MECHANIC SHOWED UP AND INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT (SEE STATEMENT) AND REPLACED THE N2 GOVERNOR.  THE PILOT PERFORMED TEST RUNS FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WITH NO DISCREPANCIES.  PILOT STATED N2 ISSUE WAS CORRECTED.

## 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 ERA20LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA071), Jan 8, 2020: Hughes OH 6A (N6186U), Preston, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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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