MD Helicopters 369FF N5841Z

Summary

On 9 April 2024 at about 13:45 local time, a MD Helicopters 369FF registered N5841Z, operated by Luma Energy Servco, LLC, was involved in an accident near Ceiba, 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

9 April 2024 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ceiba, United States

Nearest airport

Jose Aponte de la Torre (RVR)

Coordinates

18.2514, -65.6407

Aircraft

MD Helicopters 369FF

Registration

N5841Z

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1999

Engines

2

Operator

Luma Energy Servco, LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Juan → Ceiba

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA172

Nobody was injured.

The pilots’ failure to ensure adequate clearance from the taxiway while performing a quick stop maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident pilot was new to the company, and he and the chief pilot were practicing quick stop maneuvers in the helicopter. The pilots reported that while performing a quick stop maneuver over a taxiway, they heard a noise before the nose of the helicopter began turning right and the skids touched down. Postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that its horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged. Photographs of the horizontal stabilizer and tail rotor displayed signatures consistent with both contacting the ground during the quick stop maneuver. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.