Hughes OH-6A accident near Tampa, Florida, April 14, 2002
On April 14, 2002 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Hughes OH-6A (helicopter), registered N56TP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tampa, Florida (Macdill Afb airport). It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper planning/decision to conduct an out of ground effect hover in a tailwind environment, which resulted in the loss of tail rotor effectiveness and the subsequent in-flight collision with water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2002 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Macdill Afb · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes OH-6A · all OH-6As on the register
- Registration
- N56TP · registry record · serial 601429
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot brought the helicopter to a 400-foot hover so that his flight observer could observe some recently installed signs. As he began his transition to forward flight, the helicopter began an uncommanded right yaw. The pilot applied left pedal to stop the yaw but the helicopter continued to yaw. In an effort to correct the yaw condition the pilot entered an autorotation. The helicopter collided with the ground and bounced and came t o to rest on the left side in about three feet of water. Examination of the helicopter failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. Advisory Circular 90-95 states in-part that, " Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness (LTE) is a critical, low-speed aerodynamic flight characteristic which can result in an uncommanded rapid yaw rate which does not subside of its own accord and, if not corrected, can result in the loss of aircraft control".
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,358 hours in all; 33 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,275 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison T63A-720 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TPA Tampa Intern FL at 8:15 pm
- Destination: TPA Tampa Intern FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,900 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from TPA, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.