McDonnell Douglas 369 N540HH

Summary

On 9 July 2024 at about 16:35 local time, a McDonnell Douglas 369 registered N540HH, operated by MD Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Mesa, 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

9 July 2024 at 16:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Mesa, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.3950, -111.6501

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas 369

Registration

N540HH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2012

Engines

1

Operator

MD Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mesa → Mesa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA239

Nobody was injured.

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain helicopter control during autorotation, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. Contributing to the accident was the delayed remedial action from the flight instructor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that, the pilot receiving instruction entered a smooth and established autorotation. About 75 ft above ground level, the pilot receiving instruction began to slow the helicopter into a near- vertical decent. The flight instructor took the controls, leveled the helicopter, and it then contacted the ground. One of the skids dug into the sand, and the helicopter proceeded to roll over. During the accident sequence, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and the fuselage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident failures or malfunctions that precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.