Bell OH-58C N9142S

Summary

On 8 August 2000 at about 22:30 local time, a Bell OH-58C registered N9142S was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 August 2000 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tampa, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Vandenberg (X16)

Coordinates

28.0007, -82.3802

Aircraft

Bell OH-58C

Registration

N9142S

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL00TA080

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper use of flight controls that resulted in low rotor induced oscillation during a practice autorotation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While attempting a practice 180-degree autorotative turn, an unusual vibration was felt in the airframe followed by a decrease in main rotor and engine rpm. The helicopter collided with the runway in a level attitude, bounced once, and then settled back onto the runway. The examination of the airframe disclosed that the tailboom was deformed and cracked but remained attached to the helicopter. The examination disclosed that the tailboom damage was associated with inflight low rotor induced oscillation and the airframe examination failed to disclose typical hard landing damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.