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20240125000379A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E · Wahiawa, HI · January 25, 2024

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
January 25, 2024 · 13:15 local
Place
Wahiawa, HI
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Rotation
Operating rules
Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator
K2DA
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N545PH
NTSB investigation
NTSBANC24LA012
Reported as
Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E
Reported engine
Allison 250-C20 series
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
15,900 total10,000 in this make and model200 in the last 90 days
N545PHRegistration cancelled Nov 24, 2025 · Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369ES/N 0536E · Built 1997Airframe modelMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369EEngine modelAllison 250-C20 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The pilot was taking off from a confined remote mountainside landing zone. During vertical takeoff, the helicopter drifted forward and the right skid hooked a fence that was in front of the landing zone. The helicopter rotated forward and impacted terrain.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A CONFINED REMOTE MOUNTAINSIDE LANDING ZONE. DURING VERTICAL TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER DRIFTED FORWARD AND THE RIGHT SKID HOOKED A FENCE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF THE LANDING ZONE. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED FORWARD AND IMPACTED TERRAIN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC24LA012Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportWaialua, HIThe pilot's inability to maintain directional control after a skid got caught on a fence while he was maneuvering the helicopter for takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic roll-over.Jan 25, 2024 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N545PH · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20230201000159IHover/Holding · Honolulu, HIOn 2/1/2023, while conducting aerial survey for invasive plant species with one passenger on board, the PIC encountered a wire strike resulting in damage to 3 rotor blades. The PIC landed the aircraft without further incident.Feb 1, 2023 · Minor damage