Hughes OH-6A N56TP

Summary

On 14 April 2002 at about 19:45 local time, a Hughes OH-6A registered N56TP was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 April 2002 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Tampa, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

MacDill AFB (MCF)

Coordinates

27.8500, -82.5250

Aircraft

Hughes OH-6A

Registration

N56TP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tampa Intern → Tampa Intern

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL02TA083

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's improper planning/decision to conduct an out of ground effect hover in a tailwind environment, which resulted in the loss of tail rotor effectiveness and the subsequent in-flight collision with water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot brought the helicopter to a 400-foot hover so that his flight observer could observe some recently installed signs. As he began his transition to forward flight, the helicopter began an uncommanded right yaw. The pilot applied left pedal to stop the yaw but the helicopter continued to yaw. In an effort to correct the yaw condition the pilot entered an autorotation. The helicopter collided with the ground and bounced and came t o to rest on the left side in about three feet of water. Examination of the helicopter failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. Advisory Circular 90-95 states in-part that, " Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness (LTE) is a critical, low-speed aerodynamic flight characteristic which can result in an uncommanded rapid yaw rate which does not subside of its own accord and, if not corrected, can result in the loss of aircraft control".

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.