Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlanta, Georgia 30320
Tuesady, January 20, 2009 14:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter pilot was informed before landing about the wind direction and velocity (330 degrees at 18 knots with gusts to 28 knots). After an uneventful landing he began shutdown of the helicopter. He applied down collective and friction, and following a 2-minute cooldown 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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/20/2009
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Atlanta
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30320
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332801N
Event Location Longitude 0842541W
Event Location Airport Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ATL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1452 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1026
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 23
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 29
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25010
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Comm. Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 4 2009 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N369PD
NTSB Number ERA09CA138
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MD HELICOPTER INC
Aircraft Model 369E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0557E
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 11 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3395
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ATLANTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 675 PONCE DE LEON AVE NE
Aircraft Owner City ATLANTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30308-1829
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name City of Atlanta Police Department
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 675 PONCE DE LEON AVE NE
Operator City ATLANTA
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 30308-1829
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ATL
Departure City Atlanta
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code ATL
Destination City Atlanta
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 11 2009 7:50AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --