# Incident 20230801006589I: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Paxson, AK, August 1, 2023

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2023, 09:30 local time
- Place: Paxson, AK
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Location: 63.0897° N, 145.6131° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Paxson, AK, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0897&lon=-145.6131&mi=10
- Aircraft: N808BH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N808BH) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,750 total, 2,000 in this make and model
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230801006589I

## Narrative

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

PILOT ATTEMPTED SLOPED LANDING ON DOWNWIND SIDE OF A RIDGE LINE AT THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN SLOPE WITH WINDS AT 12-15 KTS GUSTING 23-25 KTS FROM WNW WITH 10 MILES OF VISIBILITY.  THERE WAS ALSO HAZE DUE TO SMOKE FROM WILD FIRES.

THE TAIL ROTOR DAMAGE WAS IDENFIED DURING A POST FLIGHT WALKAROUND.  ONE ROTOR BLADE HAD MINOR ROCK DAMAGE AND THE OTHER ONE HAD ROCK DAMAGE WITH A SMALL CRACK/TEAR AT THE TIP.  MAINTENANCE WAS DISPATCHED TO THE AIRCRAFT LOCATION WITH NEW NEW TAIL ROTOR ASSEMPLY AND A NEW TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX.  BOTH WERE REPLACED AND AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE PRIOR TO THE NEXT FLIGHT.

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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