20060322005049A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Doug MD 900 · Mesa, AZ · March 22, 2006

Date: March 22, 2006 · 16:00 local
Place: Mesa, AZ
Airport: Falcon Field Airport
Phase of flight: Unknown/Not Reported
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N912LH
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC06LA038
Reported as: Doug MD900
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 11,266 total1,017 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N912LHRegistered now · MD Helicopters MD 900S/N 900-00095 · Built 2001 Airframe modelMD Helicopters MD 900 Engine modelPratt & Whitney Canada PW207ETurbo-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) During a photo flight northeast of the Mesa ffz, with the pilot and crew chief aboard, the main rotor pitch cases were damaged by contact with the perimeter bolts of the main rotor hub assembly. The flight included +6/-69 degree bank angles, +35/-35 degree pitch angles, and +2.5/.05 gravity maneuvers. All maneuvers were within the approved flight envelope and were verified via recorded flight data and a review of video of the flight. The damage was discovered the following day during preflight of the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING A PHOTO FLIGHT NORTHEAST OF THE MESA FFZ, WITH THE PILOT AND CREW CHIEF ABOARD, THE MAIN ROTOR PITCH CASES WERE DAMAGED BY CONTACT WITH THE PERIMETER BOLTS OF THE MAIN ROTOR HUB ASSEMBLY. THE FLIGHT INCLUDED +6/-69 DEGREE BANK ANGLES, +35/-35 DEGREE PITCH ANGLES, AND +2.5/.05 GRAVITY MANEUVERS. ALL MANEUVERS WERE WITHIN THE APPROVED FLIGHT ENVELOPE AND WERE VERIFIED VIA RECORDED FLIGHT DATA AND A REVIEW OF VIDEO OF THE FLIGHT. THE DAMAGE WAS DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING DAY DURING PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT.

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 ANC06LA038Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMesa, AZThe manufacturer's inadequate design clearance of the main rotor blade grip pitch cases, which resulted in damage to the pitch cases when they contacted main rotor perimeter bolts during maneuvering flight.Mar 22, 2006 · Substantial damage