# NTSB ERA24LA172: MD Helicopters 369FF, N5841Z, Ceiba, PR, April 9, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 9, 2024, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Ceiba, PR · Over Taxiway A
- Coordinates: 18.25144, -65.640696 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.2514&lon=-65.6407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- 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: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194063
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194063/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194063
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA172

## Probable cause

The pilots’ failure to ensure adequate clearance from the taxiway while performing a quick stop maneuver.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The accident pilot was new to the company, and he and the chief pilot were practicing quick stop maneuvers in the helicopter. The pilots reported that while performing a quick stop maneuver over a taxiway, they heard a noise before the nose of the helicopter began turning right and the skids touched down. Postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that its horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged. Photographs of the horizontal stabilizer and tail rotor displayed signatures consistent with both contacting the ground during the quick stop maneuver. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5841Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5841Z), registered now, S/N 0135FF, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MD HELICOPTERS INC 369FF
- Registry model: [MD Helicopters 369FF](https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-369ff) (registry code 3030002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 400HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (registry code 03013, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0135FF
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 5562.9
- Engines: Rolls Royce RR250-C30 650 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Luma Energy Servco, LLC, doing business as Luma
- Registered owner: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 26, 2024, 55.8 hours before
- Departed: TJSJ, San Juan, PR
- Destination: TJRU, Ceiba, PR
- Airport: RVR, Jose Aponte De La Torre
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, private, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 1,780 total, 4.5 in this make and model, 1,740 as pilot in command, 94.9 in the last 90 days, 36.9 in the last 30 days, 0.7 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 6,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: TJNR
- METAR: TJNR 091353Z AUTO 06010G16KT 10SM BKN028 OVC036 26/21 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP183 T02610211 $

## 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 20240409005259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240409005259A), Apr 9, 2024: Md Helicopters Inc 369FF, Ceiba, PR, Substantial damage. On April 9, 2024, at around 1345Z, an MD helicopters [privacy data omitted] sustained substantial damage while practicing rapid deceleration/quick stop…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194063. 11.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 22 pages, 9.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17032600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%206120s_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� 6120.1 form clarification (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17079976&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%206120%20clarification-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17031952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA24LA172-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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