# Accident 20150903017269A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, New Smyrna, FL, September 3, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 3, 2015, 15:26 local time
- Place: New Smyrna, FL
- Airport: New Smyrna Beach Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: NGLG
- Location: 29.0839° N, 81.7669° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0839&lon=-81.7669&mi=10
- Aircraft: N16056, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16056-2018-03-22) (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 DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,876 total, 309 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA337) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150903017269A

## Narrative

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

WHILE SPRAYING MOSQUITO INSECTICIDE, A MD-369E CRASH LANDED AFTER IMPACTING 50-70 FT TREES.  THE PILOT WAS LOOKING FOR NEXT FIELD TO SPRAY WHILE IN A LEVEL RIGHT HAND TURN AND DID NOT SEE THE TREES UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO CLIMB.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON IMPACT WITH THE TREES AND GROUND.  THE HELICOPTER HAD ONE OCCUPANT ON BOARD, THE PILOT, WHO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.  AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT CALLED VOLUSIA COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL DISPATCH TO REPORT THE CRASH AT 1526.

## 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 ERA15LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA337), Sep 3, 2015: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N16056), New Smyrna Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at low altitude.

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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