MD Helicopters 369FF N530FF

Summary

On 16 September 2006 at about 14:41 local time, a MD Helicopters 369FF registered N530FF was involved in an accident near Port Clinton, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 2006 at 14:41

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Clinton, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

41.5164, -82.8686

Aircraft

MD Helicopters 369FF

Registration

N530FF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Port Clinton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI06CA266

Nobody was injured.

The pilot not maintaining clearance from the water during the survey flight. A factor was the low altitude the survey flight was flown at.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental research and developmental helicopter's left boom impacted water during an offshore low level survey flight. The pilot's accident report stated, "While flying an easterly course line at approximately 25 knots over calm surface conditions, a course correction to the left was initiated with 2 degrees of left bank angle. This resulted in the left boom tip touching the surface of the water. The nose of the helicopter pitched down causing the main rotor blades to strike the water. The helicopter became inverted, sinking immediately. The elapsed time between the boom tip contacting the water and the helicopter becoming inverted was approximately three seconds." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions in reference to the survey flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.