# NTSB CEN22LA402: MD Helicopters 369E, N1576F, Pearland, TX, August 30, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 29, 2022, 21:55 local (Aug 30, 2022, 02:55 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX - Coordinates: 29.521278, -95.242139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5213&lon=-95.2421&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Rolls Royce, MD Helicopters, Houston PD, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105830 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA402 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105830/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105830 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA402 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain aircraft control, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that he and the commercial pilot receiving instruction were practicing simulated autorotations with power recovery. During one autorotation, as the helicopter was flared at the conclusion of the autorotation, the flight instructor increased the engine throttle and waited for the pilot receiving instruction to increase collective. When he did not feel the collective control move, the flight instructor pulled up on the collective, but the helicopter struck the ground before it could ascend. The pilot receiving instruction stated that during the flare, he did not feel the engine power increase like he had felt on previous autorotations; the helicopter sank fast and struck the ground. The main rotor of the helicopter severed the tail boom during the hard landing. Examination of the helicopter and a subsequent engine test run in a test cell did not reveal any anomalies that would explain a loss of engine power. Based on the available evidence, the accident was the result of the pilot receiving instruction’s failure to increase collective at the conclusion of the autorotation and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial response, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 2022, about 2155 central daylight time, an MD Helicopters 369E, N1576F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the William P. Hobby Airport, Houston, TX. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight was conducted by a flight instructor and a commercial pilot who was receiving instruction. The fight instructor reported that he and the pilot receiving instruction were conducting a simulated power recovery autorotation with a 90° turn. The maneuver was started at 800 ft above ground level (agl) and between 75 and 80 knots (kts) airspeed, and the instructor stated that he was commanding the throttle while the pilot receiving instruction commanded the cyclic, anti-torque, and collective controls. The instructor reduced the throttle and the pilot receiving instruction reduced airspeed to about 60-65 kts. When the helicopter descended to 300 ft agl, the flight instructor increased engine throttle and the pilot receiving instruction continued the autorotation, flared, and leveled the helicopter about 10 ft agl. The flight instructor waited for the pilot receiving instruction to increase collective, but he did not feel the collective control move, so he pulled up on the collective, but the helicopter struck the ground before it could ascend. The helicopter then slid to a stop and the flight instructor pulled the emergency fuel cutoff to shut down the engine. After exiting the helicopter, the instructor saw that the tail boom had separated from the helicopter. The pilot receiving instruction reported that he had set the helicopter up for a simulated autorotation with a 90° turn and power recovery. He counted down from 3 to begin the autorotation. The throttle was rolled to idle, and the pilot receiving instruction lowered the collective and depressed right pedal. He pitched the helicopter to maintain 60 kts while making a 90° turn to align with the runway. He maintained rotor speed by slightly raising and lowering the collective control. As the helicopter descended through about 150 ft agl, he began to flare. He felt the throttle increase but did not feel the power increase like he had felt on previous autorotations. The helicopter sank fast and struck the runway, skidding to a stop. He noted that the flight instructor pulled the fuel cutoff to stop the engine. Examination of the helicopter and a subsequent engine test run in a test cell did not reveal any anomalies that would explain a loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1576F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1576F), registered now, S/N 0802FF, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MD HELICOPTERS INC 369E - Registry model: [MD Helicopters 369FF](https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-369ff) (registry code 3030002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C30](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30) (registry code 54023, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0568E - Year built: 2006 - Engines: Rolls-Royce M250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Public use - Operator: City Of Houston Police Dept - Registered owner: City Of Houston Police Dept - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HOU, Houston, TX - Destination: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Airport: LVJ, Pearland Rgnl, runway 14, 4,313 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 12, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,339 total, 1,138 in this make and model, 1,264 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 59; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,528 total, 3,383 in this make and model, 3,458 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 20° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 21,000 ft - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KLVJ - METAR: METAR KLVJ 300253Z AUTO 02003KT 10SM CLR 26/24 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP139 60000 T02610244 53010= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20220829019759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220829019759A), Aug 29, 2022: Md Helicopters Inc 369E, Pearland, TX, Substantial damage. The aircrew operating public use aircraft were performing practice autorotations at night. The pilot had completed two straight in autorotations and one from… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105830. 8.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (CFI) (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 784 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16545748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20(CFI)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (student) (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16546328&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20(Student)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16546263&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Forms_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Rolls royce engine report (item 4, PDF, 17 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16546273&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Rolls%20Royce%20engine%20report-Rel.pdf - Aircraft examination notes (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16553351&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Exam%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16553361&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Wreckage%20release%202-8-2023_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Examination photos (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16552753&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.