# Accident 20180529024589A: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 369FF, Wikieup, AZ, May 29, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2018, 10:50 local time
- Place: Wikieup, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: CUCL
- Location: 34.7406° N, 113.6039° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7406&lon=-113.6039&mi=10
- Aircraft: N975BW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250 20&30 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180529024589A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 29, 2018 AT 1050 MST, A MD HELICOPTERS N975BC WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR WIKIEUP, AZ.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES ON BOARD.  THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO AID IN POWERLINE CONSTRUCTION.

THE PILOT NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VIBRATE AND MADE THE DECISION TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT.  UPON LANDING THE TAILBOOM SEPARATED AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH VARIOUS PARTS OF THE FUSALAGE.

THE "STRAP PACK" WAS SENT TO THE NTSB MATERIALS LAB FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.

## 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 WPR18LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA152), May 29, 2018: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF (N975BW), Wikieup, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A vibration of the helicopter for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in a forced landing and the main rotor contacting the tailboom.

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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