# Accident 20240713009629A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Cottonwood, AZ, July 13, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 13, 2024, 10:35 local time
- Place: Cottonwood, AZ
- Airport: Cottonwood
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: E0GA
- Location: 34.7320° N, 112.0366° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7320&lon=-112.0366&mi=10
- Aircraft: N473E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N473E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (registry code 3027369, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B (registry code 54385, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20B
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 9,221 total, 14 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA243) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240713009629A

## Narrative

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

THE SECOND AIR TOUR OF THE DAY STARTED AT 10:15AM.  AS THE PILOT APPROACHED VIEWING SITE HE BEGAN A SLOW GRADUAL DECELERATION AND AIMED TO POSITION THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RUINS OUT THE LEFT DOOR SO THE PASSENGER ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE COULD TAKE PHOTOS. AS THE PILOT STARTED A GRADUAL DESCENT HE PREPARED TO FLY AWAY FROM THE SITE AND AT THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND UN-COMMANDED RIGHT YAW.   THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY APPLIED LEFT PEDAL TO ARREST THE YAW RATE AND LOWERED THE NOSE TO FLY OUT OF IT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE LEFT PEDAL WAS FULLY EXTENDED AND THE ROTOR SPEED WAS LOW.   ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTATION WAS NORMAL. WHEN THE LOW ROTOR SPEED ALERT SOUNDED THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY INCREASED COLLECTIVE TO STABILIZE THE ROTOR SPEED.  THE PILOT THEN NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THE FLASHING DIGITS ON THE TOT, INDICATING THAT THE TURBINE TEMPERATURE WAS GOING HIGH. THE SPIN TO THE RIGHT CONTINUED TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LOWER THE COLLECTIVE AND FORCE THE NOSE OVER AND CONDUCT A LOW-LEVEL AUTO ROTATION ONTO THE HARD SURFACE BELOW.  THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STATE OF AUTOROTATION. THE AIRSPEED BEGAN TO INCREASE, AND THE YAW CEASED, AND THE LEFT SIDE LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE SURFACE FIRST AND BROKE OFF. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED A FEW TIMES AND CONTINUED TO SKID FORWARD WITHOUT COMING TO A REST, THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO CLIMB BACK INTO THE AIR. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO P52. ONCE AT THE COTTONWOOD AIRPORT THE PILOT PUT THE AIRCRAFT INTO A LOW HOVER, AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF ANOTHER PILOT, THEY EVACUATED THE THREE PASSENGERS OFF THE AIRCRAFT AND ESCORTED THEM INSIDE THE TERMINAL. THE PILOT REPOSITIONED THE AIRCRAFT OVER A GRASSY AREA OFF THE RUNWAY AND SHUT OFF THE FUEL.  WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPOOL DOWN THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE.

## 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 WPR24LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA243), Jul 13, 2024: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N473E), Cottonwood, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s low-speed, high-power maneuvering in high density altitude and near maximum gross weight, which resulted in an uncommanded right yaw due to a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and a…

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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