# NTSB CEN23LA389: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 530FF, N530JR, Liberty Hill, TX, August 31, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 31, 2023, 08:05 local (13:05 UTC)
- Place: Liberty Hill, TX
- Coordinates: 30.66232, -97.93462 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6623&lon=-97.9346&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: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192972
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA389
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192972/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192972
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA389

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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: [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=3027371), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=3027371), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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: [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3027371), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During an instructional flight, the instructor reported that they were practicing simulated engine failures and power recovery autorotations. During the fourth practice autorotation, the pilot receiving instruction attempted to terminate the maneuver with power to a 5 ft above ground level hover. The pilot did not move the twistgrip throttle from idle power back to full open and began raising the collective. The helicopter “fell through” and experienced a hard landing onto a field. The helicopter bounced, touched down hard again and spun about 150° resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom and empennage. The instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N530JR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N530JR), registered now, S/N 0711FF (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 530FF
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas Heli 369FF](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-heli-369ff) (registry code 3027371) (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: 0711FF
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 760.3
- Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C30 447 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Free The Oppressed
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2023, 12.3 hours before
- Departed: KGTU, Georgetown, TX
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,000 total, 400 in this make and model
- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,900 total, 19.1 in this make and model, 682 as pilot in command, 6.9 in the last 90 days, 6.9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KGTU, 14 nm away
- METAR: KGTU 311256Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP125 T02280139

## 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 20230831017089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230831017089A), Aug 31, 2023: Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 369FF, Libery Hill, TX, Substantial damage. Working simulated engine failures at varying altitudes and air speeds. Flying at 100KTS heading 150. Throttle was rolled to idle. Student initiated an…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192972. 3.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16406707&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16407915&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-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.

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