# NTSB CEN23LA404: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, N8372F, Arcola, TX, September 7, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 7, 2023, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Arcola, TX - Coordinates: 29.506268, -95.475832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5063&lon=-95.4758&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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193027 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA404 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193027/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193027 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA404 ## Probable cause The instructor’s failure to re-apply engine power during a power recovery after a practice autorotation 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3027369), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: powerplant parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md?model=3027369), [All aircraft, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/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 Helicopter 369E, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3027369), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an evaluation flight with a company pilot, the instructor pilot reported that he failed to re-apply engine power prior to the completion of a practice autorotation with a power recovery. During the maneuver, the instructor’s attention was diverted from reapplying engine power by an airplane holding short of the runway near their planned touchdown point. The helicopter subsequently landed hard on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions of failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8372F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8372F), registered now, S/N 0488E, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (registry code 3027369) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0488E - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 18500 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Public use - Operator: City Of Houston Police Department - Registered owner: City Of Houston Police Department - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 27, 2023 - Departed: AXH, Arcola, TX - Airport: AXH, Houston Southwest, runway 27, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,115 total, 2,525 in this make and model, 4,068 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,197 total, 990 in this make and model, 1,155 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KAXH - METAR: KAXH 071715Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 35/23 A2997 RMK AO2 T03540227 ## 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 20230907010599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230907010599A), Sep 7, 2023: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, 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… ## Other investigations on N8372F (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… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193027. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16268365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 803 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16164498&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.