# NTSB LAX99TA088: McDonnell Douglas 369D, N58431, Las Vegas, NV, January 31, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: January 31, 1999, 14:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.210205, -115.119979 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2102&lon=-115.1200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45712 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99TA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45712/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99TA088 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly judge the landing flare maneuver during a practice autorotative landing resulting in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - intentional, pilot in command - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The supervisor of the law enforcement helicopter unit reported that the pilot was performing a practice autorotative landing to touchdown when, during the landing flare, the tail stinger contacted the ground. The helicopter landed hard and the main rotor blades then flexed downward severing the tail boom. ## Factual narrative On January 31, 1999, at 1445 hours Pacific standard time, a McDonnell Douglas 369D, N58431, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The commercial licensed pilot and one observer/passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight which was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a public-use aircraft by the Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit. The unit supervisor reported that the pilot was performing a practice autorotative landing to touchdown when, during the landing flare, the tail stinger contacted the ground. The helicopter landed hard and the main rotor blades then flexed downward severing the tail boom. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58431](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N58431), registered now, S/N 1290647D, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas 369D - Registry model: [Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (registry code 4470706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1290647 - Airframe hours: 22782 - Engines: Allison 250C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: Las Vegas Metro Police Dept - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 1998, 43 hours before - Departed: VGT - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,440 total, 2,080 in this make and model, 3,177 as pilot in command, 258 in the last 90 days, 123 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 19 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAS, 8 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 19990131001159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990131001159A), Jan 31, 1999: Hughes 369D, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Las Vegas metropolitan police department 1979 Hughes 369-D helicopter was involved in auto rotation practice when the main rotors struck the tail boom. Other… ## Other investigations on N58431 (3) 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 CEN21LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA139), Feb 26, 2021: Hughes 369 (N58431), Kaufman, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during low-level maneuvering. - [NTSB LAX05CA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA263), Aug 8, 2005: Hughes 369D (N58431), North Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper use of the cyclic flight control and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. - [NTSB FTW80FQA36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FQA36), Jul 7, 1980: Hughes 369D (N58431), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage 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.