NTSB CAROL · Event
Event WPR24LA028
Registry · N369FF
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
MD HELICOPTERS INC 369FF
Year of manufacture
2009 · 14 years old at event
TCDS
H3WE · MD HELICOPTERS INC (MDHI)
Engine
ROLLS-ROYC 250-C30 (650 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 2 engines
Last airworthiness date
20250908
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A42E3E
Registrant of record
BANK OF UTAH TRUSTEE
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
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
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or 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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