Boeing HU-369-OH6A accident near Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, June 25, 1999
On June 25, 1999 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Boeing HU-369-OH6A (helicopter), registered N6247A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight loss of control due to loss of tail rotor effectiveness as a result of the pilot's inadequate compensation for the winds and improper weather evaluation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1999 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Murrells Inlet, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing HU-369-OH6A HU-369-OH6
- Registration
- N6247A · registry record · serial 1260014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was in a 4-to 6-foot hover above the marsh's surface, maneuvering for film shooting. The pilot stated the helicopter began to spin clockwise despite his applying full left anti-torque pedal. Increasing collective did not remedy the uncommanded yawing, so he lowered collective and power, and settled into the marsh, collapsing the left skid and the three occupied seats. The tail boom was severed by a main rotor blade strike. Winds were from the south to southwest at 15 knots. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction of the helicopter's flight controls, structure, or rotor drive system.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,120 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1999; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C10D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYR Myrtle Beach SC at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from MYR, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.