# NTSB ATL02TA030: Hughes OH-6A, N46TP, Tampa, FL, January 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: January 4, 2002, 15:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Tampa, FL - Coordinates: 27.975276, -82.533058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9753&lon=-82.5331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Tampa FSDO 35 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53992 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02TA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53992/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53992 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02TA030 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare during practice autorotation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, maneuvering - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The commercial pilot, under the supervision of the flight instructor, initiated a full-touchdown autorotation in an unmowed, grassy practice area. After touchdown, the helicopter began a slow ground run for three to five feet with no abnormalities. The flight instructor and commercial pilot then reported a very hard hop, and the helicopter collided with the ground and began gyrating violently. Both pilots shut it down. Examination of the helicopter revealed the main rotor severed the tail boom, separating it from the airframe. The pilots reported no mechanical failures. ## Factual narrative On January 4, 2002, at 1505 eastern standard time, a Hughes OH-6A helicopter, N46TP, registered to, owned, and operated by the City of Tampa Police Department, collided with terrain during training maneuvers in a field near Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Florida. The public use instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The certificated flight instructor and the commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight departed the Tampa Police Aviation hangar in Tampa, Florida, at 1400. The flight instructor was acting as check airman for the commercial pilot's annual airman competency/proficiency check. The commercial pilot completed several maneuvers before a full-touchdown autorotation was initiated in a dry, unmowed, grassy practice area west of the approach end of runway 27 at Tampa International Airport. The maneuver, from entry at 500 feet above ground level to touchdown, was actively monitored by the flight instructor and was performed correctly with the rotor RPM, airspeed, attitude, and sink rate within parameters. The pilot initiated a flare at 100 feet above ground level, and, through final descent to the ground, lifted the collective to cushion the landing. The helicopter touched down in a slight nose-down attitude and began a slow ground run for three to five feet. The flight instructor and commercial pilot then reported a very hard "hop" that threw both upward against their shoulder harnesses, and the commercial pilot's helmet struck the upper doorjamb. The commercial pilot stated, "the helicopter then rose up left side low, then slammed into the ground, with the right side taking the brunt of the force." The helicopter then began gyrating violently, and both the flight instructor and commercial pilot shut it down. Examination of the helicopter revealed the main rotor blade severed the tail boom, separating the tail rotor and vertical/horizontal assembly from the airframe. One main rotor blade was separated, and the other main rotor blade displayed deformation. The pilots reported no mechanical failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46TP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46TP-2013-11-08), registration cancelled 2013-11-08, S/N 68-17308 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes OH-6A - Registry model: [Hughes OH-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-oh-6) (registry code 4470904) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 891268 - Airframe hours: 6910 - Engines: Allison T63A700 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Registered owner: City of Tampa Police Department - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 11, 2001, 50 hours before - Departed: KTPA, Tampa, FL - Destination: KTPA, Tampa, FL - Airport: KTPA, Tampa International Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 9, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 871 total, 371 in this make and model, 745 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days - Check pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 9, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 6,550 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 5,975 as pilot in command, 93 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KTPA, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020104000349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020104000349A), Jan 4, 2002: Hughes OH6A, Tampa, FL, No damage. (.19) On January 4, 2002, at 1505 eastern standard time, a Hughes OH-6 helicopter, N46TP, registered to the city of Tampa police department, collided with… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53992. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 with statement from Flight Supervisor Miller (item 1, .PDF, 589 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20with%20statement%20from%20Flight%20Supervisor%20Miller-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 with statement from Officer Williams (item 2, .PDF, 578 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20with%20statement%20from%20Officer%20Williams-Redacted.PDF - Tampa Police Aviation Incident Report (item 3, .PDF, 462 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171779&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Tampa%20Police%20Aviation%20Incident%20Report-Master.PDF - Weather Data (item 4, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171780&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF - Wreckage Diagram (item 5, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171781&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Diagram-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.