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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2025 · about 2:35 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Cookville, Missouri · Waynesville-St Robert Rgnl for · cases near this airport · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Damaged tail rotor blades
Photograph 2 – Damaged tail rotor blade
Photograph 3 – Damaged tail rotor blade
Photograph 4 – Damaged main rotor bladeThe 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 9, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6100N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6100N on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Md Helicopters Inc 369 108 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C30 76 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Waynesville-St Robert Regional Forney Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Missouri 1,640 since 1982 · 219 in the last ten years
- Missouri 5,813 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N6100N 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN25LA098.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.