# NTSB ERA09CA138: MD Helicopter 369E, N369PD, Atlanta, GA, January 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 20, 2009, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.466945, -84.428054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4669&lon=-84.4281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73262 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73262/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73262 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA138 ## Probable cause Wind gusts during engine shutdown, which resulted in the main rotor blades contacting the tailboom. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Fuselage: rotorcraft tail boom](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035302): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035302/cases.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035302/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter pilot was informed before landing about the wind direction and velocity (330 degrees at 18 knots with gusts to 28 knots). After an uneventful landing he began shutdown of the helicopter. He applied down collective and friction, and following a 2-minute cooldown period for the engine he closed the throttle and guarded the cyclic control. When the main rotor was at 200 rpm, he felt a wind gust from the right side of the helicopter and then heard a loud sound. He applied the rotor brake and exited the helicopter after the main rotor blades stopped. At that time he noted damage to the main rotor blades and also to the tailboom. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the MD Helicopter 369E was informed before landing about the wind direction and velocity (330 degrees at 18 knots with gusts to 28 knots). After an uneventful landing the co-pilot exited the helicopter and he began shutdown of the helicopter. He applied down collective and friction, and following a 2-minute cool down period for the engine, he closed the throttle and guarded the cyclic control. When the main rotor was at 200 rpm, he felt a wind gust from the right side of the helicopter and then heard a loud sound. He applied the rotor brake and exited the helicopter after the main rotor blades stopped. At that time he noted damage to the main rotor blades and also to the tailboom. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N369PD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N369PD), registered now, S/N 0721FF, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MD HELICOPTER INC 369E - Registry model: [MD Helicopters 369FF](https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-369ff) (registry code 3030002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20) (registry code 03080, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0557E - Airframe hours: 3395 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 SER 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - local, Part 91 - Operator: City of Atlanta Police Department - Registered owner: Atlanta Police Department - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 11, 2008 - Departed: ATL, Atlanta, GA - Destination: ATL, Atlanta, GA - Airport: ATL, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 986 total, 720 in this make and model, 762 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 23 knots, gusting 29 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: ATL ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20090120013279I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090120013279I), Jan 20, 2009: Hughes 369E, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. This is a public aircraft. During engine shutdown, a gust of wind caused 3 of the 4 rotor blades on the aircraft to contace the upper tailboom causing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73262. 508 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 439 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40307238&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40307239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.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.