Bell OH-58A N77MP

Summary

On 17 May 1999 at about 21:08 local time, a Bell OH-58A registered N77MP was involved in an accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 May 1999 at 21:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bell OH-58A

Registration

N77MP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Malden → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI99GA155

2 people died.

The tail rotor's impact with the blue warm-up jacket and the subsequent overload of the tail rotor drive shaft. A contributing factor was the absence of the helicopter's entry doors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter departed controlled flight while en route to the Poplar Bluff Airport, Poplar Bluff, Missouri. A witness stated that the helicopter appeared to be 450 feet agl. The helicopter was then reported by the witness to have made three to four rotations during its descent. The OH-58A/C lists procedures for the 'COMPLETE LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR THRUST'. Examination of the tail rotor drive shaft revealed a 45-degree torsional fracture. There was rotational scoring near the fracture area on the interior housing for the tail rotor drive shaft. An elastic material with navy blue yarns was found wrapped around the tail rotor. The yarns were consistent with those of a navy blue warm up jacket found along the reported flight path. The helicopter's entry doors were removed for the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.