NTSB WPR24LA028 — 2023-11-06 · Mesa, Arizona, United States

Current FAA registration · N369FF

Make / Model: MD HELICOPTERS INC 369FF
Year of manufacture: 2009 · 14 years old at event
Engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C30 (650 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 2 engines
Last airworthiness date: 20250908
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A42E3E

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N369FF MD HELICOPTERS INC 369FF None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper autorotation profile during deceleration that resulted in the tail rotor assembly impacting the ground.

Factual narrative

During a proficiency flight, the pilot was demonstrating an autorotation, and the nonflying pilot was following on the flight controls. While holding the flare to land, an excessive amount of aft cyclic was abruptly applied, and the tailskid and tail rotor contacted the ground. The pilot leveled the helicopter and completed the autorotation. The helicopter spun about 90° to the right before it came to a stop. The tail rotor assembly, tail boom, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, and tail rotor drive shaft couplings sustained substantial damage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot
— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR24LA028.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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