# NTSB CEN17LA055: Hiller OH 23B, N5776, Tynan, TX, December 10, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 10, 2016, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Tynan, TX - Coordinates: 28.171388, -97.760559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1714&lon=-97.7606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 94498 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94498/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94498 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA055 ## Probable cause The student pilot's delayed and improper landing flare during a practice autorotation, which resulted in the tail rotor striking terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller OH-23B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4360109), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller OH-23B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=4360109), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hiller OH-23B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=4360109), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Hiller OH-23B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=4360109), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hiller OH-23B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4360109), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot departed on his second solo flight in the helicopter. Before the accident, he completed two takeoffs and landings without incident. During a subsequent practice autorotation, the tail rotor struck the ground, the helicopter entered a spin, and it then came to rest near the place of initial impact. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical or system malfunctions with the helicopter before the accident. The flight instructor who witnessed the accident stated that the deceleration/flare was executed too low. ## Factual narrative On December 10, 2016, about 1130 central standard time, a Hiller OH-23B helicopter, N5776, impacted terrain during a practice autorotation near Tynan, Texas. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed due to a post-impact fire. The helicopter was registered to Tynan Flyers, LLC, Tynan, Texas, and operated by a private individual as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed a private residence about 1000. The student pilot reported he departed a private residence on his second solo flight. Prior to the accident, he completed two takeoffs and landings without incident. During a practice autorotation, the tail rotor struck the ground, the helicopter entered a spin, and came to rest near the place of initial impact. The student pilot reported there were no mechanical or system malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident. According to the student pilot's flight instructor who witnessed the accident, the student pilot appeared to be conducting a practice autorotation with a power recovery. The instructor reported the deceleration/flare was executed too low and the tail rotor struck the ground. The helicopter then spun 180 degrees and rolled over onto its left side. A small fire was noted near the engine and the student pilot was pulled from the helicopter by another witness. The helicopter was destroyed by a post-impact fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5776](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5776-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 534, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HILLER OH 23B (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Hiller OH-23B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-oh-23b) (registry code 4360109) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 534 - Year built: 1943 - Airframe hours: 4647.5 - Engines: Franklin 6V-350-B reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 28, 2016 - Departed: PVT, Tynan, TX - Destination: PVT, Tynan, TX - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; student, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 11, 2014; seat: center; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,659 total, 18 in this make and model, 1,590 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.42 inHg - Observed at: BEA, 15 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 20161210024699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161210024699A), Dec 10, 2016: Hiller OH-23B, Tynan, TX, Destroyed. During first solo flight, pilot attempted to practice auto-rotation and flared to low. Tail boom contacted ground and broke away. Aircraft rolled onto side and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94498. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 2, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-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.