# NTSB SEA03TA060: McDonnell Douglas 369E, N91620, Plentywood, MT, April 11, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: April 11, 2003, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Plentywood, MT - Coordinates: 48.794998, -104.534164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7950&lon=-104.5342&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56795 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03TA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56795/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03TA060 ## Probable cause Aircraft control was not maintained during a hovering turn. High wind conditions and excessive remedial action were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - ground - Roll over, emergency descent/landing ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas 369E - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0529E - Airframe hours: 3576 - Engines: 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. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030411007399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030411007399A), Apr 11, 2003: Hughes 369E, Plentywood, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) After being hit by a gust of wind while making a pedal turn during a hover, a public use helicopter operated by the U.S. Border patrol experienced a 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. --- 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.