N369PD

Substantial
None

MD HELICOPTER INC 369ES/N: 0557E

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
NTSB Number
ERA09CA138
Location
Atlanta, GA
Event ID
20090122X82054
Coordinates
33.466945, -84.428054
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

Wind gusts during engine shutdown, which resulted in the main rotor blades contacting the tailboom.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N369PD
Make
MD HELICOPTER INC
Serial Number
0557E
Model / ICAO
369E

Analysis

The pilot of the MD Helicopter 369E was informed before landing about the wind direction and velocity (330 degrees at 18 knots with gusts to 28 knots). After an uneventful landing the co-pilot exited the helicopter and he began shutdown of the helicopter. He applied down collective and friction, and following a 2-minute cool down period for the engine, he closed the throttle and guarded the cyclic control. When the main rotor was at 200 rpm, he felt a wind gust from the right side of the helicopter and then heard a loud sound. He applied the rotor brake and exited the helicopter after the main rotor blades stopped. At that time he noted damage to the main rotor blades and also to the tailboom.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA09CA138