# Accident 20260309004409A: Md Helicopters MD369FF, Mojave, CA, March 9, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 9, 2026, 15:17 local time
- Place: Mojave, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: 2FEL
- Location: 35.0383° N, 118.2645° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0383&lon=-118.2645&mi=10
- Aircraft: N530XX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N530XX) (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 MD369FF
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 32,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26FA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA121) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260309004409A

## Narrative

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

A HELICOPTER, AN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS PERFORMING OPERATIONS UNDER A PART 133 CERTIFICATE.  THE HELICOPTER WAS PULLING POWER LINES TO BE ATTACHED TO POWER POLES AND HOVERING OVERHEAD AT APPRX 250-300FT FROM GROUND. DURING OPERATION, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER AND DESCENDED IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE MAKING IMPACT WITH GROUND AND CATCHING FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT LEAVING ONLY THE TAIL SECTION INTACT. THE SOLE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.

## 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 WPR26FA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA121), Mar 9, 2026: MD Helicopters 369FF (N530XX), Mojave, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

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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