# Incident 20040329005079I: Hughes 369E, Mendota, CA, March 29, 2004

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 29, 2004, 18:52 local time
- Place: Mendota, CA
- Airport: Mendota Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: F1OM
- Location: 36.7576° N, 120.3805° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mendota, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7576&lon=-120.3805&mi=10
- Aircraft: N921SD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N921SD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (registry code 3027369, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369E
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total, 3,200 in this make and model, 170 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040329005079I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT AND OBSERVER WERE CONDUCTING A LAW ENFORCEMENT FLIGHT AT 800' AGL APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM MENDOTA AIRPORT WHEN HE NOTED A DECAY IN POWER TURBINE (N2)/ROTOR (NR) RPM TO 100%. HE ATTEMPTED TO BEEP N2/NR TO 102%-103% AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. PILOT TURNED TOWARDS MENDOTA AIRPORT AND DESCENDED FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. NOTING THE N2 GOVERNOR CIRCUIT BREAKER (C/B) HAD TRIPPED, HE RESET IT AND ATTEMPTED TO BEEP THE N2/NR UP TO NORMAL, WHICH CAUSED AN UNCOMMANDED INCREASE IN N2/NR TO 105%-106%. PILOT ROLLED THE THROTTLE TOWARD THE GROUND IDLE TO OBTAIN CONTROL OF N2/NR SPEED. N921SD WAS NOW 5 FEET TO 6 FEET OVER THE MENDOTA AIRPORT RUNWAY RAPIDLY SETTLING IN A SKIDS LEVEL ATTITUDE WITH 20 KNOTS FORWARD AIRSPEED. PILOT INCREASED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO CUSHION THE LANDING WHILE CONTINUING TO ROLL THROTTLE OFF TO CONTROL RPM OVERSPEED. THE HELICOPTER LANDED ON THE LEFT SKID AND BOUNCED. IT THEN STRUCK HARD ON THE RIGHT SKID, WHICH COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE FLIR HEAD, WHICH PREVENTED A MAIN ROTOR STRIKE. PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND EXITED THE HELICOPTER WITH OBSERVER AFTER THE ROTOR STOPPED.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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