# Accident 20090812048179A: Mcdonnell D 369E, Acworth, GA, August 12, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 12, 2009, 10:15 local time
- Place: Acworth, GA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: R96A
- Location: 34.0661° N, 84.6767° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0661&lon=-84.6767&mi=10
- Aircraft: N527BB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N527BB-2013-02-20) (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: MCDONNELL D 369E
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,038 total, 94 in this make and model, 33 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09LA460](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA460) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090812048179A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 12, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:15 (LCL), MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER N527BB EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN ACWORTH, GA.  THE HELICOPTER IS REGISTERED TO A 14 CFR PART 135 ON DEMAND OPERATOR.  (ROTORWORKS LLC, HIRAM, GA)  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING POWERLINE PATROL AND HAD A CREW OF ONE PILOT AND ONE OBSERVER. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HOVERING AT 1400 FT MSL ABOVE A POWER SUB STATION AWAITING CLEARANCE INTO MCCOLLUM, GA AIRSPACE.  AFTER HOVERING FOR APPROXIMATELY A 15 SECONDS MCCOLLUM TOWER CLEARED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE REQUESTED AIRSPACE.  THE PILOT STARTED A DECENT TO THE POWER LINES HEADING SW TO MCCOLLUM'S AIRFIELD.  APPROXIMATELY 5-10 SECONDS LATER (1100-1200'MSL) THE PILOT HEARD A "BANG AND A BRAKING" NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY RECEIVED ENG OUT AUDIO AND CAUTION LIGHTS (RED AND YELLOW).  THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND LOOKED FOR A PLACE TO LAND. HE SELECTED AN AREA THAT HAD A RETENTION POND AND A MARSH AREA.  AT THIS POINT HIS ROTORS WERE BLEEDING OFF AND HIS AIRSPEED WAS BETWEEN 50-60 KNOTS, HE INITIATED THE AUTOROTATION AND MADE A MAYDAY CALL.  AT APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE THE INTENDED LANDING AREA HE STARTED HIS DECELERATION AND AT APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET HE PULLED THE COLLECTIVE PITCH AND TRIED TO KEEP THE SKIDS LEVEL.  THE AIRCRAFT FELL APPROXIMATELY 5-8 FEET SLIGHTLY FORWARD AND STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE MARSH AREA.  THE TERRAIN SLOPE CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE.  ONCE ON THE GROUND THE PILOT SECURED THE AIRCRAFT AND DETECTED ELECTRICAL SMOKE.   HE REACHED DOWN TO VERIFY HE HAD ROLLED TO THROTTLE TO THE OFF POSITION BUT REALIZED IT WAS AT THE IDLE DETENT.  HE ROLLED IT TO THE OFF POSITION AND CUT THE BATTERY OFF.  AT THAT TIME THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND ASSISTED THE OBSERVER IN HIS EVACUATION.THE PILOT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND THE OBSERVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## 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 ERA09LA460](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA460), Aug 12, 2009: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N527BB), Acworth, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the third-stage turbine wheel airfoil.

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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