# Accident 20240709008379A: Md Helicopters Inc 369FF, Mesa, AZ, July 9, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 9, 2024, 11:58 local time
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3950° N, 111.6501° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3950&lon=-111.6501&mi=10
- Aircraft: N540HH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N540HH) (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
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,500 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA239) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240709008379A

## Narrative

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

TUESDAY, JULY 09, 2024- IIC ON DUTY WAS NOTIFIED BY THE ROC OF AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT. RECEIVED AN FAA FORM 8020-9 DESCRIBING IN B(5), “DUE TO HARD LANDING ACFT ROLLED OVER CAUSING TAIL T0 SEVER.”

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2024- CALLED THE FBO CONTACT WHO ADVISED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD ARRIVED AND WAS SECURED IN A FENCED AREA PRESERVED AND ISOLATED. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE ACCIDENT AS A POTENTIALLY OPERATIONAL ISSUE, THE IIC REQUESTED THAT AN OPERATIONS INSPECTOR BE ASSIGNED TO ASSIST IN QUESTIONING THE PILOTS.

THURSDAY JULY 11, 2024- THE IIC (AVIONICS INSPECTOR), A MECHANIC INSPECTOR, AND AN OPERATIONS INSPECTOR TRAVELLED TO THE MESA LOCATION TO EVALUATE THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE AND TO INTERVIEW THE PILOTS INVOLVED.

PILOTS EXPLAINED THAT DURING A PRACTICE SIMULATED AUTOROTATION, THE FOREIGN STUDENT MISMANAGED THE CONTROLS CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO TOUCH-DOWN WITH FORWARD MOMENTUM. SKID MARKS IN THE SAND EVIDENCED THIS, AND THE TIPS OF THE SKIDS CAUGHT CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO PITCH FORWARD. THE ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND, THE TAIL DETACHED, AND THE COCKPIT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT. THE TWO PILOTS WERE UNHURT BUT THE HELICOPTER SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 WPR24LA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA239), Jul 9, 2024: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369 (N540HH), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain helicopter control during autorotation, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. Contributing to the accident was the delayed remedial action from…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.