# Accident 20240930015339A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Manvel, TX, September 30, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2024, 11:40 local time
- Place: Manvel, TX
- Airport: Wolfe Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.4792° N, 95.3261° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4792&lon=-95.3261&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8372F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8372F) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,119 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA377](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA377) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240930015339A

## Narrative

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

DURING AN EVALUATION/CHECK-RIDE FLIGHT ON 30 SEPTEMBER 2024. THE PILOT UNDER EVALUATION WHO WAS THE PIC WAS AT THE CONTROLS PERFORMING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION TO A GRASS STRIP. THE CREW HAD PERFORMED SEVERAL PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS PRIOR. THE CFI ANNOUNCED THAT THE POWER WAS BEING ROLLED OFF AND THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS (PIC) ENTERED THE AUTOROTATION. THE CFI ANNOUNCED THAT POWER WAS COMING BACK IN AS THE AIRCRAFT REACHED FLARE ALTITUDE. THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS (PIC) THEN ENTERED THE FLARE. THE FLARE WAS HELD IN AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED. THE TAIL STRUCK THE GROUND AND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO BOUND BACK INTO THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE GRASS STRIP. THE POWER WAS THEN ROLLED OFF AND THE CREW PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION FROM A HOVER. THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES BEFORE THE FINAL TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS (PIC) THEN SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT. NO INJURIES TO EITHER CREW MEMBER. VERBAL COUNCELING RECOMMENDED FOR BOTH PILOTS.

## 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 CEN24LA377](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA377), Sep 30, 2024: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N8372F), Manvel, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving…

## Other reports on N8372F (2)

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

- [Accident 20230907010599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230907010599A), Sep 7, 2023: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N8372F), Houston, TX, Substantial damage. PIC was giving an evaluation flight at kaxh. After several takeoffs and landings to rwy 27 the PIC initiated power recovery autorotations to rwy 27. The crew…
- [Incident 20090505009499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090505009499I), May 5, 2009: Hughes 369E (N8372F), Houston, TX, Minor damage. (-23) Returning to base following a routine air patrol, the pilot and passenger heard a loud bang followed by complete loss of engine power. A autorotation was…

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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