Rotorcraft Developement CORP. OH-58C accident near Mccomb, Mississippi, March 27, 2012
On March 27, 2012 at about 1:12 pm local time, a Rotorcraft Developement CORP. OH-58C (helicopter), registered N452MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Mccomb, Mississippi. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation at the Nos. 5 and 8 engine bearings, which resulted in a catastrophic engine failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2012 · about 1:12 pm local time
- Place
- Mccomb, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rotorcraft Developement CORP. OH-58C
- Registration
- N452MC · registry record · serial 69-16110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, about 3 minutes after takeoff, the helicopter yawed left. The pilot stated that he lowered the collective and initiated a descent for an autorotative landing and that the cabin then filled with smoke. He landed the helicopter uneventfully in a field and exited it. Subsequently, he noticed a fire in the engine compartment. Inspection of the engine revealed damage to the Nos. 5 and 8 bearings consistent with the reduced oil supply to the bearings during engine operation, which resulted in a catastrophic engine failure. Due to the severity of the damage to the bearing components, it could not be determined whether any preaccident malfunctions or failures existed in the bearing assembly that could have led to the reduction in the oil supply.
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 engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Oil system › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,575 hours in all; 8,554 in this make and model; 14,575 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,637 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20C (turboshaft); 5,515 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Custom Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Mccomb MS at 1:09 pm
- Destination: Woodville MS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from MCB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.