MD Helicopters 369FF N369FF

Summary

On 6 November 2023 at about 17:00 local time, a MD Helicopters 369FF registered N369FF, operated by MD Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona, 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

6 November 2023 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Mesa, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Falcon Fld (FFZ)

Coordinates

33.4608, -111.7283

Aircraft

MD Helicopters 369FF

Registration

N369FF

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2009

Engines

2

Operator

MD Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA028

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper autorotation profile during deceleration that resulted in the tail rotor assembly impacting the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a proficiency flight, the pilot was demonstrating an autorotation, and the nonflying pilot was following on the flight controls. While holding the flare to land, an excessive amount of aft cyclic was abruptly applied, and the tailskid and tail rotor contacted the ground. The pilot leveled the helicopter and completed the autorotation. The helicopter spun about 90° to the right before it came to a stop. The tail rotor assembly, tail boom, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, and tail rotor drive shaft couplings sustained substantial damage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.