# NTSB CEN24LA377: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, N8372F, Manvel, TX, September 30, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 30, 2024, 11:30 UTC
- Place: Manvel, TX
- Coordinates: 29.479177, -95.326111 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4792&lon=-95.3261&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): 195232
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA377
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195232/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195232
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA377

## 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 instruction.

## Findings

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

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=3027369), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=3027369), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=3027369), [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 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 instructional flight, the operator reported that during the practice autorotation, the pilot receiving instruction held the flare for too long and did not level the helicopter before touchdown. The helicopter landed hard and struck the tail on the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage, tail boom, and tail rotor drive system. The operator 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: 22070
- Engines: Rolls Royce 250C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: City Of Houston Police Department
- Registered owner: City Of Houston Police Department
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 11, 2024
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 3T2, Wolfe Airpark, runway 20, 2,910 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 4, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 1,307 total, 1,119 in this make and model, 1,227 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,360 total, 3,421 in this make and model, 4,177 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KLVJ, 5 nm away
- METAR: 	
METAR KLVJ 301653Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 32/18 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP149 T03220178=

## 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 20240930015339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240930015339A), Sep 30, 2024: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Manvel, TX, Substantial damage. 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…

## 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 CEN23LA404](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA404), Sep 7, 2023: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N8372F), Arcola, TX, substantial damage. 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.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195232. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18191632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120-1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 474 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18191424&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.

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