MD Helicopters MD 900 N902NM
19 October 2008 · Amherst, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 19 October 2008 at about 21:00 local time, a MD Helicopters MD 900 registered N902NM, operated by Covenant Health System, was involved in an incident near Amherst, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:00
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- Amherst, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.0508, -102.4667
- Aircraft
- MD Helicopters MD 900
- Registration
- N902NM
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Covenant Health System
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lubbock → Clovis
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN09IA032
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
The failure of the vertical stabilizer control adapter due to reverse bending fatigue.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While in cruise flight, the helicopter experienced a hard right yaw and subsequent pitching moment up and down. The pilot was able to regain control of the helicopter and land without further incident. Examination revealed that the left vertical stabilizer control system adapter had failed. Metallurgical examination revealed that the failure mode was reverse bending fatigue. The vertical stabilizer control system adapter has been replaced with an improved design. Further, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) requiring all MD900 helicopter operators with the old VSCS tube adapters to comply with airspeed and autopilot restrictions. If an operator replaces the old VSCS tube adapter with the new design, the AD is not applicable.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other MD Helicopters MD-900 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Dec 2008 | MD Helicopters MD 900 | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | Vulcan Aircraft Inc | No injuries | - |
| 8 Oct 2008 | MD Helicopters MD 900 | Weatherford, Texas, United States | California Shock and Trauma Air Rescue | No injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 2006 | MD Helicopters MD 900 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 2011 | MD Helicopters MD 900 | Leeds, United Kingdom | Yorkshire Air Ambulance Limited | Unknown | - |
| 27 Nov 2014 | MD Helicopters MD 900 | Highlandville, Missouri, United States | Air Methods Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 2008 | Marshall James J COZY MK IV | Midlothian, Texas, United States | Marshall James J | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Robinson R22 BETA | Horseshoe Bay, Texas, United States | Kent Leighton | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 2008 | Micco MAC-145B | Arcola, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2008 | British Aircraft Corp (Bac) JET PROVOST T MK.5A | Bay City, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 2008 | Piper PA-38-112 | Taylor, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jul 2008 | Robinson R22 | Rosharon, Texas, United States | William T. Skinner | No injuries | - |