Hughes OH-6A accident near Majuro, PO, September 11, 2010
On September 11, 2010 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Hughes OH-6A (helicopter), registered N74LB, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Majuro, PO. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of helicopter control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2010 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Majuro, PO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes OH-6A · all OH-6As on the register
- Registration
- N74LB · no longer on the register · serial 691221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to a representative from the operator, the pilot and spotter were conducting fish-spotting duties, and the helicopter was in a cruise flight about 600 feet above the water when the pilot felt a vibration through the tail rotor pedals. The pilot descended to about 15 feet above the water; the helicopter yawed right, contacted the water, and rolled over. The pilot and spotter exited the helicopter and were later rescued by a fishing vessel; however, the spotter died the following day. The helicopter’s tail boom and tail rotor assembly were not located and presumably sank. Sections of the fuselage and main rotor assembly were recovered but were disposed of before investigative personnel could examine them.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,055 hours in all; 885 in this make and model; 1,055 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,787 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 21, 2010; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,515 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C10D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jims Air Repair INC
The flight
- Departed from: Majuro PO at 2:05 pm
- Destination: Majuro PO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR10LA464.