# NTSB ERA13TA237: Bell OH-58C, N927SP, Jekyll Island, GA, May 9, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: May 9, 2013, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Jekyll Island, GA - Coordinates: 31.071388, -81.423332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0714&lon=-81.4233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13TA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86864/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86864 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13TA237 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm in the normal operating range during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate supervision by the flight instructor. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Main rotor system: main rotor blade system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046210/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Bell OH-58C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1181580), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis As part of the training and evaluation flight, the pilot was demonstrating to the instructor a simulated engine failure and autorotation to touchdown with the engine throttle at the idle setting throughout the maneuver. At the termination of the maneuver, the pilot increased collective pitch to stretch the glide, and the rotor rpm was allowed to decay to the lower end of the normal operating range. He then "abruptly" flared the helicopter to slow its ground speed and added additional collective pitch to level the helicopter. The rotor rpm decayed further, the helicopter landed hard, and the main rotor struck the tailboom, severing the tail rotor driveshaft. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 2013, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Bell OH-58C helicopter, N927SP, operated by the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), was substantially damaged during a simulated forced landing to Jekyll Island Airport (09J), Jekyll Island, Georgia. The certificated commercial pilot and certificated flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight, which was conducted as a public use flight.According to the chief pilot of GSP, the commercial pilot was a GSP officer, and the accident flight was part of the pilot's mandatory annual recurrent training. The training and evaluation flight was performed by an outside contractor. The pilot was demonstrating a simulated engine failure to touchdown, with the engine throttle at the idle setting throughout the maneuver. At the termination of the maneuver, the pilot increased collective pitch to "stretch the glide," and the rotor rpm was allowed to decay to the "bottom of the green arc," or the lower end of the normal operating range. He then "abruptly" flared the helicopter to slow its ground speed and added further collective pitch to "level" the helicopter. The rotor rpm decayed further, the helicopter landed "hard," and the main rotor struck the tailboom, resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor driveshaft. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument airplane and helicopter. His most recent second class Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate was issued February 26, 2013. He reported 5,550 total hours of flight experience, of which 2,500 hours were in the accident helicopter make and model. The flight instructor held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine, multiengine, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument airplane and helicopter. He held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single engine, multiengine, helicopter, and instrument helicopter. His most recent FAA second class medical certificate was issued March 20, 2012. He reported 13,948 total hours of flight experience, 2,000 hours of which were in the accident helicopter make and model. The helicopter was manufactured in 1969, and the most recent 100-hour inspection was completed February 27, 2013, at 9,837 total aircraft hours. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N927SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N927SP), registered now, S/N 69-16301 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL OH-58C - Registry model: [Bell OH-58C](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58c) (registry code 1181580) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 69-16301 - Airframe hours: 9837 - Engines: Rolls Royce T63-A-720 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: Georgia Aviation Authority - Registered owner: Georgia Aviation Authority - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 27, 2013, 21 hours before - Departed: 09J, Jekyll Island, GA - Destination: 09J, Jekyll Island, GA - Airport: 09J, Jekyll Island, runway 36, 3,715 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 5,550 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 72; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 13,948 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 13,610 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KSSI, 5 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 20130509011909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130509011909A), May 9, 2013: Bell OH-58C, Jekyll Island, GA, Substantial damage. N927SP was being operated by the georga state patrol for emergency procedures training. While performing hover autorotation, the rotor RPM decreased, followed… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86864. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407099&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - View of Helicopter as Found (item 2, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407100&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20of%20Helicopter%20as%20Found-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - View of Damage to Tail Rotor Driveshaft Cover and Severed Driveshaft (item 3, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407101&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20View%20of%20Damage%20to%20Tail%20Rotor%20Driveshaft%20Cover%20and%20Severed%20Driveshaft-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.