Hughes OH 6A N6186U

Summary

On 8 January 2020 at about 18:39 local time, a Hughes OH 6A registered N6186U, operated by US Dept Of Agriculture, was involved in an accident near Preston, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

8 January 2020 at 18:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Preston, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

31.9625, -84.5275

Aircraft

Hughes OH 6A

Registration

N6186U

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

US Dept Of Agriculture

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Preston → Albany

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20LA071

2 people had minor injuries.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.