# Accident 20120930022589A: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 369FF, Decorah, IA, September 30, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2012, 09:10 local time
- Place: Decorah, IA
- Airport: Decorah Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: CUCA
- Location: 43.2719° N, 91.7369° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2719&lon=-91.7369&mi=10
- Aircraft: N530KD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N530KD-2017-07-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF (registry code 3027371, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-heli-369ff) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 7,406 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA667](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA667) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120930022589A

## Narrative

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

N530KD DEPARTED KFOD WITH A DESTINATION OF KDEH.  58 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE LOW FUEL CAUTION LIGHT ELUMINATED, 2-3 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE FLAMED OUT AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENTERED INTO AUTO-ROTATION.  N530KD HAD A HARD LANDING ON THE SKIDS, BOUNCED BACK UP AND TIPPED OVER LANDING ON THE SIDE IN A CORN FIELD ABOUT 2.6 MILES FROM KDEH.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES.  THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING DAMAGE TO THE MAIN AND TAIL ROTORS, AND SEPARATION OF THE TAIL BOOM AND RUDDER ASSEMBLY.

## 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 CEN12LA667](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA667), Sep 30, 2012: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF (N530KD), Decorah, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly manage the helicopter's available fuel supply, which led to a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the improper…

## Other reports on N530KD (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20170314003049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170314003049A), Mar 14, 2017: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 369FF (N530KD), Chalmers, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On March 14, 2017, at 1546 eastern daylight time, an MD helicopters model 369FF helicopter, registration number N530KD, impacted terrain during a power line…

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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