# NTSB WPR21LA183: MD Helicopters 369FF, N6068S, Mesa, AZ, May 5, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 5, 2021, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.460833, -111.72833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 103042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103042/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103042 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA183 ## Probable cause A tail rotor blade strike to an undetermined object while practicing approaches to unimproved terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600) (defining event); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [MD Helicopters 369FF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=3030002), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, he performed a preflight inspection with the pilot receiving instruction and did not observe any damage to the tail rotor blades before the accident flight. They subsequently departed to a nearby training area and completed several terrain flight approaches to a sandy wash area using standard approach profiles. After one hour of flight and about 15 approaches they returned to their departure airport. While performing a post-flight inspection, the flight instructor and the pilot both observed substantial damage to the tail rotor blades. According to the flight instructor, at no point during the flight did they feel any unusual vibrations with the helicopter, nor did they observe any debris within the landing area. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6068S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6068S-2021-12-16), registration cancelled 2021-12-16, S/N 0268FF, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MD HELICOPTERS INC 369FF - Registry model: [MD Helicopters 369FF](https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-369ff) (registry code 3030002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C30](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c30) (registry code 54023, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0268FF - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 40.6 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C30 650 hp turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Md Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Md Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 23, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: FFZ, Falcon Fld - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 15, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,188 total, 790 in this make and model, 8,693 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; foreign; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 900 total, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KFFZ - METAR: KFFZ 051554Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/M03 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP128 T02721028 ## 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 20210505002049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210505002049A), May 5, 2021: Md Helicopters Inc 369FF, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. Training flight departed kffz to the training area (13 NM on a 018 degree heading) at sycamore creek. Terrain flight approaches were performed to the sandy… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103042. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12283727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Pilot%20Report%206120%201%20Form%202018_Banks4_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12283737&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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.