Bell OH-58C accident near Jekyll Island, Georgia, May 9, 2013
On May 9, 2013 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bell OH-58C (helicopter), registered N927SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jekyll Island, Georgia (Jekyll Island airport). It was a public-use flight (state) under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm in the normal operating range during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2013 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jekyll Island, Georgia · Jekyll Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58C · all OH-58Cs on the register
- Registration
- N927SP · registry record · serial 69-16301
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (state) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As part of the training and evaluation flight, the pilot was demonstrating to the instructor a simulated engine failure and autorotation to touchdown with the engine throttle at the idle setting throughout the maneuver. At the termination of the maneuver, the pilot increased collective pitch to stretch the glide, and the rotor rpm was allowed to decay to the lower end of the normal operating range. He then "abruptly" flared the helicopter to slow its ground speed and added additional collective pitch to level the helicopter. The rotor rpm decayed further, the helicopter landed hard, and the main rotor struck the tailboom, severing the tail rotor driveshaft. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Main rotor system › Main rotor blade system › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,550 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 5,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,948 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 13,610 as pilot in command; 9,340 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,837 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 27, 2013; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce T63-A-720 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Georgia Aviation Authority
The flight
- Departed from: 09J Jekyll Island GA at 5:50 pm
- Destination: 09J Jekyll Island GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,715 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KSSI, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 14, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 - View of Helicopter as Found | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2 - View of Damage to Tail Rotor Driveshaft Cover and Severed Driveshaft | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.