# Accident 20210505002049A: Md Helicopters Inc 369FF, Mesa, AZ, May 5, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2021, 09:00 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Airport: Falcon Fld
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unknown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.4608° N, 111.7283° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6068S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6068S-2021-12-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: MD Helicopters 369FF (registry code 3030002, https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-369ff) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C30 (registry code 54023, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MD HELICOPTERS INC 369FF
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C30
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA183) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210505002049A

## Narrative

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

TRAINING FLIGHT DEPARTED KFFZ TO THE TRAINING AREA (13 NM ON A 018 DEGREE HEADING) AT SYCAMORE CREEK. TERRAIN FLIGHT APPROACHES WERE PERFORMED TO THE SANDY WASH UTILIZING STANDARD APPROACH PROFILES. AFTER 1 HOUR AND APPROXIMATELY 15 APPROACHES THE HELICOPTER RETURNED TO KFFZ. AT NO POINT DURING THE FLIGHT DID THE FLIGHT CREW FEEL ANY VIBRATIONS OR NOTICE ANY DEBRIS WITHIN THE LANDING AREA. ON POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE DAMAGED.

THE CREW DOES NOT KNOW WHERE OR WHEN THIS COULD OF HAPPENED DURING THE FLIGHT.

## 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 WPR21LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA183), May 5, 2021: MD Helicopters 369FF (N6068S), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A tail rotor blade strike to an undetermined object while practicing approaches to unimproved 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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