Mcdonnell Douglas 500E accident near Columbus, Ohio, April 13, 1998
On April 13, 1998 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 500E (helicopter), registered N551CP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Related factors were: lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing; and high obstructions in the forced landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1998 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 500E
- Registration
- N551CP · registry record · serial 0534E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After loss of engine power at about 700 feet above ground level, the pilot entered an autorotation to a street. To avoid wires during the autorotation, the pilot flared early, trading speed for altitude to avoid the wires. After passing over the wires, the helicopter began settling. The pilot increased collective, but the helicopter touched down hard. The main rotor system then flexed downward and severed the tail boom. Examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomaly. Also, an operational check of the engine was made, and it performed within operational specifications.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 6,876 as pilot in command; 153 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1998; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Police Heliport OH at 2:25 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:34 pm from KCM, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N551CP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.