McDonnell Douglas Heli 369FF N975BW

Summary

On 29 May 2018 at about 17:45 local time, a McDonnell Douglas Heli 369FF registered N975BW, operated by Rogers Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Wikieup, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 May 2018 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wikieup, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

34.7406, -113.6039

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas Heli 369FF

Registration

N975BW

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1994

Operator

Rogers Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

External Load

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kingman → Wikieup

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA152

Nobody was injured.

A vibration of the helicopter for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in a forced landing and the main rotor contacting the tailboom.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing external load operations in the helicopter when he felt a vibration during a left descending turn. The pilot increased the collective to arrest the rate of descent, but the vibration became more prominent. He subsequently performed a forced landing, during which the helicopter impacted the ground and a main rotor blade contacted and severed the tailboom. The pilot did not report any malfunctions with the engine nor any abnormal increase or decrease in main rotor rpm. Postaccident examination revealed a fractured drive link and a fractured strap pack assembly. Examination of the fractured surfaces revealed signatures consistent with tensile overstress, most likely from the blade contacting the left inlet fairing after the helicopter impacted the ground. There was no other evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the vibration could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.