- Date
- April 11, 2003, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Plentywood, MT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N91620McDonnell Douglas 369E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030411007399A
- Case key
- 56795
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
Aircraft control was not maintained during a hovering turn. High wind conditions and excessive remedial action were factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while in a hover, about three feet above ground level, he began a 180 degree left pedal turn. As the tail of the helicopter passed through the downwind portion of the turn, the tail rose sharply. The pilot applied abrupt aft cyclic control. The tail rotor struck the pavement, followed by a loss of tail rotor authority and an uncommanded rapid spin to the right. Throttle was reduced as the pilot attempted to perform a hovering autorotation. The helicopter touched down in a level attitude, but with excessive lateral movement. The right side landing skid collapsed and the helicopter rolled to the right coming to rest on its right side. The pilot reported the winds from 175 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 28 knots. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On April 11, 2003, at 1030 mountain daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas 369E, N91620, registered to and operated by the U.S. Border Patrol Air Operations as a public use operation, rolled over at the Sher-Wood Airport, Plentywood, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and passenger/observer were not injured. The flight originated from Glasgow, Montana, about one hour and ten minutes prior to the accident.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that the helicopter was hovering about three feet above the taxiway, when he began to make a 180 degree left pedal turn. As the tail of the helicopter passed through the downwind portion of the turn, the tail rose sharply. The pilot applied abrupt aft cyclic control. The tailrotor struck the pavement, followed by a loss of tail rotor authority and an uncommanded rapid spin to the right. Throttle was reduced as the pilot attempted to perform a hovering autorotation. The helicopter touched down in a level attitude, but with excessive lateral movement. The right side landing skid collapsed and the helicopter rolled to the right coming to rest on its right side.
The pilot reported the weather at the time as clear, with greater than 10 miles visibility. The temperature was 65 degrees F, and the wind was reported from 175 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 28 knots.
The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter at the time.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91620
- Reported as
- McDonnell Douglas 369E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0529E
- Airframe hours
- 3,576
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Public use
- Registered owner
- U.S. Border Patrol Air Operations
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · March 12, 2003 · 76 hours before
- Departed
- GGW · Glascow, MT
- Destination
- PWD · Plentywood, MT
- Airport
- PWD · Sher-Wood
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- February 23, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,639 total · 560 in this make and model · 1,950 as pilot in command · 113 in the last 90 days · 51 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 175° at 21 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.