Md Helicopter 369 accident near Houston, Texas, July 5, 2019
On July 5, 2019 at about 1:00 am local time, a 2008 Md Helicopter 369, registered N5277F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Houston, Texas (Houston Hobby airport). It was a public-use flight (local) under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of control upon landing for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2019 · about 1:00 am local time · cases in 2019
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Houston Hobby · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Md Helicopter 369 E, built 2008
- Registration
- N5277F · registry record · serial 0587E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter flew about 1.5 hours with no problems. On final approach to land the helicopter, about 5 to 10 ft above the ground, the pilot experienced a sudden uncontrollable yaw and bank. The left skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The pilot stated that there was no sudden gust of wind and that he did not have input on the controls that would have caused the yaw and bank. Detailed examination of the helicopter’s flight controls did not reveal any anomalies. The reason for the yaw and bank could not be determined based on the available information.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,306 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royc 250-C20B (turboshaft); 4,306 hours total
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from HOU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 26, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN19LA207 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement CEN19LA207 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Officer Statement CEN19LA207 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Airworthiness Inspector Statement CEN19LA207 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5277F on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rolls-Royc 250-C20B 216 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- William P Hobby Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,985 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN19LA207.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.