Location/Time Aircraft Registration Number: Most Critical Injury: Minor Investigated By: NTSB N911BL Nearest /Place Zip Code Local Time Time Zone Las Vegas NV 89032 1600 PDT Airport Proximity: On Airport/Airstrip Distance From Landing Facility: 0 Aircraft Information Summary Aircraft Manufacturer Model/Series Type of Aircraft MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO 369FF Helicopter Revenue Sightseeing Flight: No Narrative Brief narrative statement of facts, conditions and circumstances pertinent to the accident/incident: Air Medical Transport Flight: No *** Note: NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this public aircraft accident report. *** On September 24, 2012, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas 369FF helicopter, N911BL, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing following a practice autorotation at North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The two pilots, who both held flight instructor certificates, sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the flight was a public aircraft operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local training flight, which had originated from North Las Vegas Airport approximately 30 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot-in-command (PIC)/pilot-giving-instruction stated that he and the pilot receiving instruction were alternately practicing autorotations. He decided to demonstrate a 270-degree autorotation to the touchdown point on taxiway Zulu. He began the maneuver on a 180-degree heading, 800 feet above the ground and an airspeed of 85 knots. As he crossed his intended touchdown point, he rolled the throttle back to begin the autorotation. He thought the wind was about 180 to 230 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 26 knots. He entered a left turn. While in the turn, he reported that because of a tailwind he increased his bank angle to maintain his ground reference to the touchdown point. The pilot receiving instruction reported that moments later, the helicopter was in a high rate of descent and its airspeed was decreasing. The helicopter impacted terrain in a tail low attitude. Subsequently the tail boom separated from the fuselage, the helicopter rolled onto its right side, and the right landing skid support structure folded under the fuselage. At 1605, the reported wind at North Las Vegas Airport, elevation 2,205 feet, was 270 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 22 knots. The calculated density altitude, using the barometric pressure of 29.77 inches of mercury, was 5,116 feet. Updated on Jun 11 2014 1:15PM - Page 1
Landing Facility/Approach Information Airport Name North Las Vegas Airport Airport ID: Airport Elevation 2205 Ft. MSL Runway Used N/A Runway Length Runway Width Runway Surface Type: Unknown Runway Surface Condition: Dry Approach/Arrival Flown: NONE VFR Approach/Landing: Simulated Forced Landing Aircraft Information Aircraft Manufacturer MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELI CO Model/Series 369FF Serial Number 0601FF Airworthiness Certificate(s): Normal Landing Gear Type: Skid Amateur Built Acft? No Number of Seats: 4 Certified Max Gross Wt. 3100 LBS Number of Engines: 1 Engine Type: Turbo Shaft Engine Manufacturer: Allison Model/Series: 250-C30 Rated Power: HP - Aircraft Inspection Information Type of Last Inspection Date of Last Inspection Time Since Last Inspection Airframe Total Time Annual 06/2012 Hours 20200 Hours - Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Information ELT Installed?/Type Yes / Unknown Owner/Operator Information Registered Aircraft Owner LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Operator of Aircraft LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Operator Does Business As: - Type of U.S. Certificate(s) Held: None Air Carrier Operating Certificate(s): No ELT Aided in Locating Accident Site? Street Address 3600 THUNDERBIRD FIELD RD LAS VEGAS NV Zip Code 89032 Street Address 3600 THUNDERBIRD FIELD RD Zip Code LAS VEGAS NV 89032 Operator Designator Code: Operating Certificate: Operator Certificate: Regulation Flight Conducted Under: Public Use Type of Flight Operation Conducted: Instructional - Page 2
NTSB ID: WPR12TA436 First Pilot Information Name Date of Birth Age On File On File On File On File 46 Sex: Seat Occupied: Right Occupational Pilot? Yes Certificate Number: On File Certificate(s): Flight Instructor; Commercial; Private Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land Rotorcraft/Glider/LTA: Helicopter Instrument Rating(s): Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter Helicopter Current Biennial Flight Review? Medical Cert.: Class 2 Medical Cert. Status: With Waivers/Limitations Date of Last Medical Exam: 04/2012 - Flight Time Matrix All A/C This Make and Model Airplane Single Engine Airplane Mult-Engine Night Actual Instrument Simulated Rotorcraft Glider Lighter Than Air Total Time 5774 4993 85 3444 5570 Pilot In Command(PIC) Instructor 1148 1148 Instruction Received Last 90 Days Last 30 Days Flight Plan/Itinerary 83 83 83 22 22 22 2 2 2 Yes Yes No Yes Type of Flight Plan Filed: None Departure Point Airport Identifier Departure Time Time Zone Same as Accident/Incident Location 1600 PDT Destination Same as Accident/Incident Location Airport Identifier Type of Clearance: Type of Airspace: None Class C Weather Information Source of Wx Information: Unknown - Page 3
Weather Information WOF ID Observation Time Time Zone WOF Elevation WOF Distance From Accident Site Direction From Accident Site 1605 PDT 2205 Ft. MSL NM Deg. Mag. Sky/Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Ft. AGL Condition of Light: Day Lowest Ceiling: None Ft. AGL Visibility: 10 SM Altimeter: 29.77 "Hg Temperature: 34 C Dew Point: 1 C Weather Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions Wind Direction: 270 Wind Speed: 13 Wind Gusts: 22 Visibility (RVR): Ft. Visibility (RVV) SM Precip and/or Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation Accident Information Aircraft Damage: Substantial Aircraft Fire: None Aircraft Explosion None - Injury Summary Matrix First Pilot Second Pilot Student Pilot Fatal Serious Minor None TOTAL 1 1 1 1 Flight Instructor Check Pilot Flight Engineer Cabin Attendants Other Crew Passengers - TOTAL ABOARD - Other Ground - GRAND TOTAL - 2 2 2 2 - Page 4
Administrative Information Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) James F. Struhsaker Additional Persons Participating in This Accident/Incident Investigation: Paul Alukonis FAA FSDO Las Vegas, NV - Page 5