# Accident 20160504004599A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Reedsville, WI, May 4, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2016, 10:00 local time
- Place: Reedsville, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: 1RTL
- Location: 44.2133° N, 87.9603° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2133&lon=-87.9603&mi=10
- Aircraft: N629JK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N629JK-2019-06-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (registry code 3027369, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 20,678 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16FA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA171) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160504004599A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 04, 2016 AT 1000 CST NEAR REEDSVILLE, WI  N629JK A MD-369E OWNED BY PADGETT AG AIR, LLC AND OPERATED BY ROTOR BLADE, LLC (1RTL) UNDER 14 CFR 133 EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS. WHILE MANUEVERING FOR AN EQUIPMENT PICK UP, THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER (REASON UNDETERMINED) DESCENDED AND ROLLED TO THE RIGHT COLLIDING WITH TREES. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO A STOP ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT PAUL R RUPPERT THE SOLE OCCUPANT ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED.

VISUAL METEROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVEILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

## 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 CEN16FA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA171), May 4, 2016: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N629JK), Reedsville, WI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the power turbine governor's dual-spool bearing due to a lack of lubrication, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power and subsequent impact with terrain.

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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