MD Helicopter Inc MD 900 incident near Weatherford, Texas, October 8, 2008
On October 8, 2008 at about 7:10 pm local time, a MD Helicopter Inc MD 900, registered N902RN, suffered minor damage in an incident during enroute (cruise) near Weatherford, Texas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the vertical stabilizer control adapter due to reverse bending fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2008 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Weatherford, Texas · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- MD Helicopter Inc MD 900
- Registration
- N902RN · no longer on the register · serial 900-00121
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the helicopter experienced a hard right yaw and subsequent left nose tuck. The pilot was able to regain control of the helicopter and reduce the airspeed to under 100 knots. The flight continued to its destination without further incident. An examination revealed that the vertical stabilizer control system adapter failed. Metallurgical examination revealed that the failure mode was reverse bending fatigue. The vertical stabilizer control system adapter has since been redesigned. Installation of the improved design is now required by an Airworthiness Directive.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Stabilizer control system › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,600 hours in all; 214 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 5,200 as pilot in command; 3,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 20, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 201 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 25, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 207E (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 207E (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: California Shock And Trauma Air Rescue
The flight
- Departed from: KPVW Plainview TX at 5:35 pm
- Destination: KGPM Grand Prairie TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KMWL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.