# NTSB WPR10LA464: Hughes OH-6A, N74LB, Majuro (Pacific Ocean), September 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 2010, 15:00 UTC - Place: Majuro (Pacific Ocean) - Coordinates: 37.636043, -130.069869 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6360&lon=-130.0699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 17, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA464 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77354/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77354 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA464 ## Probable cause A loss of helicopter control for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Flight control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [All aircraft, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to a representative from the operator, the pilot and spotter were conducting fish-spotting duties, and the helicopter was in a cruise flight about 600 feet above the water when the pilot felt a vibration through the tail rotor pedals. The pilot descended to about 15 feet above the water; the helicopter yawed right, contacted the water, and rolled over. The pilot and spotter exited the helicopter and were later rescued by a fishing vessel; however, the spotter died the following day. The helicopter’s tail boom and tail rotor assembly were not located and presumably sank. Sections of the fuselage and main rotor assembly were recovered but were disposed of before investigative personnel could examine them. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2010, about 1500 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), a Hughes OH-6A helicopter, N74LB, sustained substantial damage following a forced landing into the Pacific Ocean about 654 miles southeast of Majuro, Marshal Islands. The New Zealand certificated helicopter pilot sustained minor injuries; the passenger was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated by Jim’s Air Repair Inc, of Port Villa, Vanuatu. The local aerial observation flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from a tuna fishing vessel approximately 55 minutes prior to the accident. In a written report to the NTSB, a representative from the operator stated that the pilot and passenger/spotter were conducting fish spotting duties when the accident occurred. He reported that the helicopter was in a cruise flight configuration and operating about 600 feet above the water when the pilot felt a vibration through the tail rotor pedals. The pilot descended to about 15 feet above the water; the helicopter yawed right, contacted the water and rolled upside-down. The pilot and spotter successfully exited the helicopter and were later rescued by a fishing vessel. The spotter remained onboard the fishing vessel to convalesce, however, died the following day as a result of injuries sustained during the accident sequence. The tail boom and tail rotor assembly were not located and presumably sank. Sections of the fuselage and main rotor assembly were recovered and disposed of prior to examination by FAA inspectors. The fish spotter was a Philippine citizen employed by the Taiwanese registered fishing vessel. The mechanism of his injuries, detailed postaccident medical treatment and postmortem information was not available. ## Aircraft - Registration: N74LB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: HUGHES OH-6A - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 691221 - Airframe hours: 3787 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C10D 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Jims Air Repair Inc - Registered owner: Jims Air Repair Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 21, 2010, 64 hours before - Departed: Majuro, PO - Destination: Majuro, PO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: minor; foreign; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,055 total, 885 in this make and model, 1,055 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 20100911053209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100911053209A), Sep 11, 2010: Hughes OH-6A, Majuro Marshall, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Helicopter was at 600 ft AGL cruise speed when a vibration was felt the the tail rotor pedals. Pilot descended to 15 ft above water. Aircraft went into a right… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77354. 276 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 276 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.