Hiller OH 23B N5776

Summary

On 10 December 2016 at about 17:30 local time, a Hiller OH 23B registered N5776 was involved in an accident near Tynan, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 December 2016 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tynan, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.1714, -97.7606

Aircraft

Hiller OH 23B

Registration

N5776

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1943

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tynan → Tynan

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA055

1 person was seriously injured.

The student pilot's delayed and improper landing flare during a practice autorotation, which resulted in the tail rotor striking terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.