What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On February 22, 2025, at or around 16:20 MST, a Hughes OH-6 tail rotor struck the tail boom and crashed (accident) at Dona ana county municipal airport (dna), NM, while taxiing 20 feet off the ground on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a VFR flight plan was not filed. There was substantial damage to the aircraft, and the two certificated commercial pilots were not injured. The flight originated at Dona ana county municipal airport, NM, on February 22, 2025.
The investigation determined the tail rotor blade stop was missing and most likely came off of the aircraft some time during the flight.
As the FAA filed it
ON FEBRUARY 22, 2025, AT OR AROUND 16:20 MST, A HUGHES OH-6 TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM AND CRASHED (ACCIDENT) AT DONA ANA COUNTY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (DNA), NM, WHILE TAXIING 20 FEET OFF THE GROUND ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE TWO CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOTS WERE NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT DONA ANA COUNTY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, NM, ON FEBRUARY 22, 2025.
THE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE STOP WAS MISSING AND MOST LIKELY CAME OFF OF THE AIRCRAFT SOME TIME DURING THE FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.