# NTSB LAX01TA092: McDonnell Douglas 600N, N606BP, San Diego, CA, February 21, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: February 21, 2001, 11:13 local (19:13 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.572223, -116.980278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5722&lon=-116.9803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA WP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51805 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01TA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51805/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01TA092 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper use of the rotorcraft flight controls, and the instructor pilot's inadequate supervision of the maneuver. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, landing - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - cut/severed - rotorcraft flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - supervision - inadequate, check pilot (contributing factor) ## Analysis During the landing slide, the main rotor blew back, contacted the tail boom, and severed it. The flight purpose was refresher training and the specific maneuver at the time of the accident was training in the procedure for a stuck (fixed) right pedal. According to the flight crew, there were no mechanical discrepancies with the helicopter. A run-on landing with the fixed right pedal was made to the 260-degree taxiway. The wind reported at the airport about 14 minutes after the accident was 330 degrees at 6 knots. The pilots reported that the wind was 310 degrees at 6 to 8 knots with gusts to 12 knots. According to information provided by the flight crew, the training pilot accomplished the maneuver: aligned with the runway heading with an airspeed between 55-65 knots; the instructor pilot (IP) held right pedal to induce a 10-degree right yaw; touchdown was estimated to occur about 30-40 knots; the low rotor rpm horn was "on" at or near touchdown, but the rotor speed was not noted; the collective was positioned at some point above half travel; cyclic was slightly forward of neutral; shortly after touchdown both pilots felt the main rotor strike the tail boom; directional control was lost and the helicopter rotated about 220 degrees nose right before coming to rest, upright. The manufacturer indicated that main rotor/tail boom contact from blowback of the main rotor may result from forward velocity and low/decaying main rotor rpm (advance ratio) due to a high collective position during the ground run-out phase following the 30-knot plus touchdown. The blowback condition is exacerbated by the high angle pitch setting which causes blade stall over a large portion of the rotor disk. A blowback condition is present in all helicopters. It may be more pronounced in the MD600N (versus the 500N) due to greater helicopter gross weight, reduced flare/deceleration capabilities because of tail boom length and installation angle, and the increased surface of the additional main rotor blade resulting in a more rapid decay of main rotor rpm. A caution in the helicopter's Rotorcraft Flight Manual specifies for practice autorotation landings to avoid conditions of ROTOR RPM (Nr) less than 60 percent with headwinds across the rotor greater than 30 knots during touchdown autorotations. These conditions during touchdown and subsequent ground slide, can lead to excessive rotor blowback, reduction in blade tip to tail boom clearance, and subsequent damage to the aircraft. Avoid these conditions by reducing collective pitch after touchdown (surface conditions permitting) and minimizing ground run. ## Factual narrative On February 21, 2001, about 1113 hours Pacific standard time, a McDonnell Douglas 600N (helicopter), N606BP, operated by the U.S. Border Patrol, severed its tail boom during landing on taxiway A at Brown Field, San Diego, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for the public-use instructional flight. The helicopter was substantially damaged. Neither of the airline transport certificated pilots were injured. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from the airport about 1045. The flight purpose was refresher training, and the specific maneuver at the time of the accident was training in the procedure for a stuck (fixed) right pedal. According to the flight crew there were no mechanical discrepancies with the helicopter. A run-on landing with the fixed right pedal was made to the 260-degree taxiway. The wind reported at the airport about 14 minutes after the accident was 330 degrees at 6 knots. The pilots reported that the wind was 310 degrees at 6 to 8 knots with gusts to 12 knots. According to information provided by the flight crew, the training pilot accomplished the maneuver: aligned with the runway heading with an airspeed between 55-65 knots; the instructor pilot (IP) held right pedal to induce a 10-degree right yaw; touchdown was estimated to occur about 30-40 knots; the low rotor rpm horn was "on" at or near touchdown, but the rotor speed was not noted; the collective was positioned at some point above half travel; cyclic was slightly forward of neutral; shortly after touchdown both pilots felt the main rotor strike the tail boom; directional control was lost, and the helicopter rotated about 220 degrees nose right before coming to rest, upright. The manufacturer indicated that main rotor/tail boom contact from blowback of the main rotor may result from forward velocity and low/decaying main rotor rpm (advance ratio) due to a high collective position during the ground run-out phase following the 30-knot plus touchdown. The blowback condition is exacerbated by the high angle pitch setting which causes blade stall over a large portion of the rotor disk. A blowback condition is present in all helicopters. It may be more pronounced in the MD600N (versus the 500N) due to greater helicopter gross weight, reduced flare/deceleration capabilities because of tail boom length and installation angle, and the increased surface of the additional main rotor blade resulting in a more rapid decay of main rotor rpm. A caution in the helicopter's Rotorcraft Flight Manual specifies for practice autorotation landings to avoid conditions of ROTOR RPM (Nr) less than 60 percent with headwinds across the rotor greater than 30 knots during touchdown autorotations. These conditions during touchdown and subsequent ground slide, can lead to excessive rotor blowback, reduction in blade tip to tail boom clearance, and subsequent damage to the aircraft. Avoid these conditions by reducing collective pitch after touchdown (surface conditions permitting) and minimizing ground run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N606BP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N606BP-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N RN035, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas 600N - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-600n) (registry code 3027377) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C47 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c47-series) (registry code 03029, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: RN-035 - Airframe hours: 795.4 - Engines: Allison 250-C47M 808 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: U.S. Border Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 16, 2001, 95.4 hours before - Departed: SDM, SAN DIEGO, CA - Destination: SDM, San Diego, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: SDM, Brown Field Muni, runway 26L, 3,057 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 6, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 4,740 total, 277 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Check pilot; age 54; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 20, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 12,120 total, 608 in this make and model, 12,050 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: SDM ## 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 20010221003359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010221003359A), Feb 21, 2001: Doug 600N, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. On February 21, 2001, at approx. 1113 local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 600N (helicopter), N606BP, operated by us border patrol severed it's tail boom during… ## Other investigations on N606BP (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 WPR14LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA173), Apr 27, 2014: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N (N606BP), Adelanto, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The commercial pilot’s improper control inputs, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control during takeoff. 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.