Hiller OH 23B accident near Leesburg, Virginia, November 24, 2014
On November 24, 2014 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1954 Hiller OH 23B (helicopter), registered N6057, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Leesburg, Virginia (Leesburg Executive airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
A loss of tail rotor effectiveness while hovering in gusting crosswind conditions resulting in the student pilot's loss of control of the helicopter. Contributing was the delayed remedial action of the flight instructor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 2014 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Virginia · Leesburg Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hiller OH 23B NO SERIES, built 1954 · all OH 23Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6057 · registry record · serial 54-2930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following an uneventful preflight inspection of the helicopter, the flight instructor and the student pilot boarded the helicopter for a local instructional flight. About 10 seconds after the student pilot lifted the helicopter into a stable hover with a left crosswind, the helicopter began a slow yaw to the right that the student was unable to arrest through the application of the left anti-torque pedal. As the rate of the yaw increased, the flight instructor took control of the helicopter and attempted to stop the yaw with the application of additional left anti-torque pedal, to no avail. The flight instructor then reduced engine power, arresting the yaw, and performed an autorotation to the ground after an estimated 1 3/4 total revolutions. As the helicopter touched down, it rocked backwards, and the tail rotor struck the helicopter's ground handling dolly, resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor. The flight instructor did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter. Archived weather data showed that wind velocity about the time of the accident was 15 knots, with gusts to 24 knots. According to Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 90-95, pilots are advised to be aware that, "…if a considerable amount of left pedal is being maintained, a sufficient amount of left pedal may not be available to counteract an unanticipated right yaw." Additionally, pilots should, "Stay vigilant to power and wind conditions."
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 maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,090 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 2,936 as pilot in command; 1,473 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 21, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, student
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,879 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 3,772 as pilot in command; 679 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 25, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,119 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6V-350-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Vertically Challenged LLC
The flight
- Departed from: JYO Leesburg VA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: JYO Leesburg VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,600 ft; ovct at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KJYO
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 February 25, 2015. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 – View of Helicopter from Front Right (Photo Courtesy of Flight Instructor) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2 – View of Damage to Tail Rotor (Photo Courtesy of Flight Instructor) | 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.