20031016025819A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Doug MD 900 · Grand Canyon, AZ · October 16, 2003

Date: October 16, 2003 · 16:50 local
Place: Grand Canyon, AZ
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: PG9A
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N179PA
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04TA017
Reported as: Doug MD900
Pilot’s flight hours: 10,000 total500 in this make and model100 in the last 90 days

N179PARegistration cancelled Mar 22, 2007 · Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter MD 900S/N 900-00021 · Built 1995 Airframe modelMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter MD 900 Engine modelPratt & Whitney Canada PW206ATurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On October 16, 2003, at approximately 4:50PM MDT, pappilon airways helicopter N179PA, sn 900-00021, an MD-900 had just completed a reconnaissance flight of the poplar fire complex on the north rim and was enroute to a landing zone on the north district of the kalbab national forest when the pilot experienced uncommanded right yaw at 40 feet AGL on his final approach. The aircraft made several revolutions to the right and impacted on its skids before coming to rest on its left side.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON OCTOBER 16, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:50PM MDT, PAPPILON AIRWAYS HELICOPTER N179PA, SN 900-00021, AN MD-900 HAD JUST COMPLETED A RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT OF THE POPLAR FIRE COMPLEX ON THE NORTH RIM AND WAS ENROUTE TO A LANDING ZONE ON THE NORTH DISTRICT OF THE KALBAB NATIONAL FOREST WHEN THE PILOT EXPERIENCED UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW AT 40 FEET AGL ON HIS FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT MADE SEVERAL REVOLUTIONS TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED ON ITS SKIDS BEFORE COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04TA017Accident · No injuriesFinal reportFredonia, AZthe pilot's in-flight loss of control due to the fatigue fracture and separation of the force limiting control rod (an integral part of the anti-torque system), which resulted in the helicopter's uncommanded yaw/spin and subsequent collision with terrain.Oct 16, 2003 · Substantial damage