MD Helicopters 369E N155NR

Summary

On 17 June 2016 at about 19:00 local time, a MD Helicopters 369E registered N155NR, operated by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, was involved in an accident near Brainerd, Minnesota, 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

17 June 2016 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Brainerd, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

46.3144, -94.5372

Aircraft

MD Helicopters 369E

Registration

N155NR

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St Cloud → Brainerd

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16LA325

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the helicopter’s windscreen for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and horizontal stabilizer.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that, during an aerial observation flight near known thunderstorms, the right center windscreen shattered. The pilot sustained multiple facial lacerations, but he was able to land the helicopter near a highway without further incident. The pilot reported that he did not see anything strike the windscreen and found no evidence of a bird strike. Examination of the helicopter revealed that debris from the windscreen substantially damaged two of the main rotor blades and the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. Examination of the windscreen and its frame revealed evidence of cracking that originated in the center of the windscreen and propagated outward, consistent with impact forces from outside the helicopter. DNA from samples taken from portions of the windscreen matched DNA from a Western Kingbird; however, given the extent of the damage to the windscreen, the small size of the Western Kingbird, and the pilot's statement, it is likely that this DNA was due to a previous bird strike and did not result in the failure of the windscreen. Therefore, the reason for the windscreen failure could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.