# NTSB FTW92GA160: Mcdonnell Douglas 369E, N684F, Yukon, OK, June 13, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: June 13, 1992, 10:35 local (15:35 UTC)
- Place: Yukon, OK
- Coordinates: 35.510364, -97.760787 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5104&lon=-97.7608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18382
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92GA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18382/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92GA160

## Probable cause

THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR RPM AND FAILURE TO LEVEL THE HELICOPTER AT TOUCHDOWN. FACTORS WERE THE MANUFACTURER'S TRAINING PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND THE DUAL STUDENT PERFORMING THE MANEUVER.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command
  - autorotation - performed, dual student (contributing factor)
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - separation
  - rotor rpm - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - touchdown - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE MANUFACTURER'S TRAINING PILOT WAS CONDUCTING UNAPPROVED 'ZERO AIRSPEED' AUTOROTATION TRAINING IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANNUAL PROFICIENCY TRAINING FOR THE POLICE AVIATION SUPPORT UNIT. HE WAS NOT A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. AFTER HE DEMONSTRATED THE MANEUVER, THE POLICE PILOT ATTEMPTED IT. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND WITH LOW MAIN ROTOR RPM AND NOT IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAIL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE POLICE PILOT STATED THAT THIS AND OTHER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE MANEUVERS WERE NOT COVERED IN THE BRIEFING CONDUCTED BEFORE THE FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N684F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N684F-1998-04-24), registration cancelled 1998-04-24, S/N 0491E (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS 369E
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (registry code 3027369) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0491E
- Airframe hours: 442
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 425 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Operator: Oklahoma City Police Dept
- Registered owner: Oklahoma City Police Dept
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 8, 1992, 35 hours before
- Departed: 2DT, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
- Destination: F29
- Airport: F29, Clarence E. Page

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,200 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 7,676 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PWA, 5 nm away

## 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 19920613020279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920613020279A), Jun 13, 1992: Hughes 369E, Oklahoma City, OK, Substantial damage. Dual flight for police unit. Mfg training pilot no CFI autorotation demo. Rotor decay. Hard landing. Chopped tail.

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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