# NTSB WPR14CA066: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, N2066W, Monticello, UT, December 6, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 6, 2013, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Monticello, UT - Coordinates: 37.926109, -109.338058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9261&lon=-109.3381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 14, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88536 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88536/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88536 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA066 ## Probable cause The passenger's accidental discharge of the net gun which resulted in the net going through a main rotor blade. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he took off and hovered about 100 feet above the ground when the net gun, which was held by the passenger, accidentally discharged. The helicopter started to vibrate; the pilot landed the helicopter uneventfully and shut it down. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed the net went through one of the main rotor blades and damaged the others. There were no reported preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he took off and hovered about 100 feet above the ground when the net gun, which was held by the passenger, accidentally discharged. The helicopter started to vibrate; the pilot landed the helicopter uneventfully and shut it down. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed the net went through one of the main rotor blades and damaged the others. There were no reported preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N2066W (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0536E - Year built: 1997 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 SERIE turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Drangonfly Aviation LLC - Registered owner: K & S Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Monticello, UT - Destination: Monticello, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2; seat: left; flight hours: 6,050 total, 700 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 7 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: CNY, 10 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 20131206023869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131206023869A), Dec 6, 2013: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Monticello, UT, Minor damage. The aircraft was performing animal capture. The pilot stated that he had just lifted off and was in a hover about 100 feet above ground level (AGL) when a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88536. 89 KB in all. - Record of Conversation – FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414460&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Damage to the Main Rotor Blade (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Damage%20to%20the%20Main%20Rotor%20Blade%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF 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.