MD Helicopters INC 369FF accident near Cookville, Missouri, February 16, 2025
On February 16, 2025 at about 2:35 pm local time, a 2015 MD Helicopters INC 369FF, registered N6100N, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Cookville, Missouri (Waynesville-St Robert Rgnl For airport). It was an other work-use flight under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a tree during the low altitude operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2025 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Cookville, Missouri · Waynesville-St Robert Rgnl For · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- MD Helicopters INC 369FF, built 2015 · all 369FFs on the register
- Registration
- N6100N · registry record · serial 0216FF
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he and his passenger were conducting a wildlife damage management flight in a heavily wooded area. He hovered the helicopter about 70 ft above ground level and coordinated with the passenger to locate the target. He then moved the helicopter aft and right for the passenger to have a better view of the target, when the helicopter shuddered and descended as the main and tail rotor blades collided with a tree. The pilot ascended out of the wooded area and located an open field for a precautionary landing, then landed without further incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades and tail rotor blades. After landing, they walked back to the accident area and located one tree that was taller than the surrounding canopy and observed cut tree limbs on the ground beneath the tree. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,600 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 6,577 as pilot in command; 641 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 6, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,297.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 17, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C30 (turboshaft); 1,580 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TBN Fort Leonard Wood MO at 2:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 am from KTBN, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTBN 161355Z AUTO 27009KT 6SM -SN OVC018 M06/M09 A3008 RMK AO2 SNE30SNB31E32UPB32E34SNB34 CIG 016 RWY33 SLP202 P0000 T10621093 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N6100N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN25LA098.