MD Helicopters 369FF N530KK

Summary

On 31 December 2014 at about 21:30 local time, a MD Helicopters 369FF registered N530KK, operated by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 December 2014 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

North Las Vegas (KVGT)

Coordinates

36.1764, -115.1189

Aircraft

MD Helicopters 369FF

Registration

N530KK

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2010

Engines

1

Operator

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

North Las Vegas → North Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR15TA071

2 people were seriously injured.

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination and testing did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting a local public flight. He reported that, about 7 minutes into the flight, while the helicopter was orbiting over a fixed area, he noticed the engine and rotor rpm decrease. The pilot rolled the helicopter out of the orbit, and the engine and rotor rpm stabilized momentarily at 97%. The pilot then attempted to increase the engine and rotor rpm while turning the helicopter toward a nearby airport. During the maneuver, the engine and rotor rpm decreased rapidly. The pilot entered an autorotation and executed an emergency landing. The helicopter then landed hard, and the tail impacted the ground and separated from the airframe. A postaccident examination of the airframe and the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. During an engine test run, the engine produced rated power. Examination of the fuel system revealed no anomalies, and a fuel sample taken from the helicopter tested positive as jet fuel (Jet A). The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.