Mcdonnell Douglas 600N accident near Waverly, Ohio, March 26, 2008
On March 26, 2008 at about 4:01 am local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 600N (helicopter), registered N160KC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Waverly, Ohio (Pike County Airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2008 · about 4:01 am local time
- Place
- Waverly, Ohio · Pike County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 600N
- Registration
- N160KC · no longer on the register · serial RN050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was being operated as a corporate/executive flight when it received substantial damage during a hard landing. The pilot had been demonstrating inputs needed to control the helicopter to the passenger. He was demonstrating a normal approach to a hover by talking through all the control inputs during a visual approach. The tail boom separated from the fuselage during the hard landing.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach defining event
- Hard landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,466 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 4,140 as pilot in command; 1,254 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce CAE-847858 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Haverhill OH
- Destination: OI24 Fredericktown OH
- Runway 25
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.