Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N accident near Eagle Lake, Texas, July 16, 2024
On July 16, 2024 at about 5:55 am local time, a 1997 Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N, registered N609RP, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Eagle Lake, Texas. It was a public-use flight (local) under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The operator’s improper installation of the fuel system, which resulted in fuel starvation, a loss of engine power, and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2024 · about 5:55 am local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Eagle Lake, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600N, built 1997 · all 600Ns on the register
- Registration
- N609RP · registry record · serial RN009
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator was providing flight services to law enforcement for training purposes at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that during the last flight of the evening, he flew the helicopter at a low altitude and at a low airspeed when the helicopter exhibited low rotor rpm. The helicopter lost partial engine power, and the pilot performed a forced landing. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed the helicopter’s fuel system was incorrectly installed and drew fuel from the forward portion of the left fuel cell, allowing air to be drawn into the fuel system when the fuel level reached an unsustainable level for engine operation. A correct installation of the fuel system would have had fuel being drawn from the aft portion of the left fuel tanks, which had about 19.5 gallons of fuel available. Maintenance entries showed that the pilot, who was also a mechanic, performed recent maintenance within the left fuel cell and such maintenance would have required the pilot to remove and visually inspect the fuel system components within the left fuel cell that were found to be improperly installed. The improper installation resulted in the fuel system not scavenging the available fuel from the aft portion of the left fuel cell.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level other cases naming the fuel system
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,800 hours in all; 610 in this make and model; 16,755 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 22, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,590 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 10, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 3,700 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C47M (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Site
Photograph 2 – Fuselage Damage
Photograph 3 – Left Forward Fuel Cell Ejector Pump and Fuel Probe
Photograph 4 – Left Aft Fuel Cell Cover
Photograph 5 – Wiring for Start/Boost PumpThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on February 26, 2025. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Missing Fuel System Parts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Ecu Download | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Aircraft Illustrated Parts Catalog for Fuel System | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photos | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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
- N609RP on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 600 14 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 135 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C47M 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,063 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,976 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN24LA271.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.