McDonnell Douglas 369FF N819BP

Summary

On 11 February 2007 at about 18:06 local time, a McDonnell Douglas 369FF registered N819BP was involved in an accident near Placida, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 February 2007 at 18:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Placida, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.8506, -82.2500

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas 369FF

Registration

N819BP

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Placida → Tampa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA07LA049

1 person had minor injuries.

The in-flight separation of the tail rotor pitch change control rod and bellcrank during takeoff-initial climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot elected to land in an open field that was used as an overflow parking lot for a restaurant. The area was empty upon his arrival. At the time of his departure, the helicopter was surrounded with vehicles. During the liftoff, at about 30 feet above the ground, a witness and the pilot reported hearing a loud bang. The witness saw something black, about a foot long, fly off the tail rotor section. The helicopter immediately began an uncontrollable spin, descended, and crashed into trees. Postcrash examination of the helicopter revealed a section of the tail rotor pitch change control rod and bellcrank clevis were fractured and missing. Metallurgical examination of the remaining bellcrank and rod showed fractures consistent with a bending overload fracture. Examination of the remainder of the helicopter control systems, structure, and engine showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.