- Date
- February 8, 2021, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Mesa, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Emergency descent
- Aircraft
- N7032VMD Helicopter 369
- Defining event
- Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- MD helicopters, FAA
- FAA report
- 20210208002329A
- Case key
- 102626
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper pitch attitude for landing and the inadequate supervision of the flight instructor, resulted in the main rotor blades impacting the tail boom.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The helicopter flight instructor reported that the intent of the flight was to perform autorotation training. With the foreign rated pilot at the flight controls, he noted a nose-high attitude while performing an autorotation. The touchdown was not hard or aggressive but when the helicopter rotated forward on the ground, the main rotor blades flexed down and impacted the tail boom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7032V
- Reported as
- MD Helicopter 369 (E)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 553E
- Built
- 2000
- Airframe hours
- 7,805.7
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce 250-C20B, 450 hp, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- MD Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- MD Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 14, 2020
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- FFZ · Falcon Field Airport
- Equipment
- None
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 24, 2020
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 5,642 total · 620 in this make and model · 4,889 as pilot in command · 67 in the last 90 days · 64 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Foreign
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,300 total · 35 in this make and model · 1,100 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- KFFZ
- METAR
- KFFZ 082154Z 21005KT 10SM CLR 23/M07 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP120 T02281072
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.