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| Date: | Wednesday 8 January 2020 |
| Time: | 14:39 LT |
| Type: |  Hughes OH-6A |
| Owner/operator: | United States Department of Agriculture |
| Registration: | N6186U |
| MSN: | 69-16048 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 12987 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Preston, Georgia -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Survey |
| Departure airport: | Preston, GA |
| Albany-Southwest Georgia Regional Airport, GA (ABY/KABY) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
During the flight to observe feral swine invading farm fields, the pilot noted a loss of engine power and rotor rpm. He maneuvered the helicopter away from trees for an autorotation to an open, plowed cornfield. During the landing on rough terrain, the helicopter nosed forward and the main rotor blades contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter.
A postaccident examination of the flight controls, drive train, fuel system, main rotor system, and tail rotor system did not reveal evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or anomaly. The engine was removed and placed on a test stand; it ran normally for about 2 minutes before the run was concluded. A laboratory test of a fuel sample was unremarkable. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Probable Cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ERA20LA071
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 05-Jun-2022 08:32 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 12-Nov-2022 02:25 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator, Phase, Narrative, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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