# NTSB WPR21LA109: MD Helicopter 369, N7032V, Mesa, AZ, February 8, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 8, 2021, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.461769, -111.73046 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4618&lon=-111.7305&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 102626 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102626/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102626 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA109 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MD HELICOPTER 369 (E) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 553E - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 7805.7 - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 47; injuries: none; 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 - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20210208002329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210208002329A), Feb 8, 2021: Md Helicopters Inc 369E, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. MD helicopters instructor pilot was providing training to a foreign military customer pilot when during an autorotation the aircraft landed with the rear end… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102626. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12011903&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12540945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20WPR21LA109-Rel.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.