# Accident 20091019025969A: Mcdonnell D 369E, Fairfield, SC, October 19, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 2009, 15:15 local time
- Place: Fairfield, SC
- Airport: Winnsboro
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.3153° N, 81.1086° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3153&lon=-81.1086&mi=10
- Aircraft: N502SL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N502SL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (registry code 3027369, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL D 369E
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYCE 250
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,200 total, 600 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA023) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091019025969A

## Narrative

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

ON OCTOBER 19, 2009, AT 1515HRS, IN VMC CONDITIONS, A LAW ENFORCEMENT HELICOPTER WAS CONDUCTING RECURRENT TRAINING OF PILOTS USING A CONTRACT FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.  THE AIRCRAFT CARRIED A NORMAL CATAGORY AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR BRIEFED THE PILOT ON THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR A LOSS OF TAILROTOR THRUST AND REVIEWED THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.  THE PILOT LIFTED OFF AND ESTABLISHED THE AIRCRAFT IN A HOVER.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR INITIATED THE MANEUVER BY APPLYING RIGHT PEDAL UNTIL A SLOW RIGHT YAW HAD OCCURRED.  THE PILOT REDUCED THE THROTTLE AND STOPPED THE ROTATION AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATES AT THE TIME OF GROUND CONTACT THE PILOT REINTRODUCED THE THROTTLE AND THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE WITH LOW RPM AND THE RIGHT PEDAL STILL APPLIED.  THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 7-10 FEET.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR APPLIED LEFT PEDAL AND THE RPM REMAINED LOW AND DECAYING.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO CUSHION THE AIRCRAFT WITH REMAINING COLLECTIVE PITCH.  RPM REMAINED LOW AND WAS INSUFFICIENT TO AVOID A HARD LANDING.  THE LEFT LANDING FAILED AND MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE GROUND CONTACT.

## 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 ERA10LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA023), Oct 19, 2009: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N502SL), Winnsboro, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to monitor the simulated emergency procedure, resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the intentional throttle application by one of the…

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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