# Accident 20060322005049A: Doug MD900, Mesa, AZ, March 22, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 22, 2006, 16:00 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Airport: Falcon Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unknown/Not Reported
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.4608° N, 111.7283° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&mi=10
- Aircraft: N912LH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N912LH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: MD Helicopters MD 900 (registry code 3030004, https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-md-900) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207E (registry code 52161, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw207e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUG MD900
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,266 total, 1,017 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC06LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA038) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060322005049A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC06LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA038), Mar 22, 2006: MD Helicopters MD 900 (N912LH), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…

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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