MD Helicopters Inc. 369FF accident near Port Clinton, Ohio, September 16, 2006
On September 16, 2006 at about 2:41 pm local time, a MD Helicopters Inc. 369FF, registered N530FF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Clinton, Ohio. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 not maintaining clearance from the water during the survey flight. A factor was the low altitude the survey flight was flown at.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2006 · about 2:41 pm local time
- Place
- Port Clinton, Ohio · 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
- Registration
- N530FF · registry record · serial 0140FF
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental research and developmental helicopter's left boom impacted water during an offshore low level survey flight. The pilot's accident report stated, "While flying an easterly course line at approximately 25 knots over calm surface conditions, a course correction to the left was initiated with 2 degrees of left bank angle. This resulted in the left boom tip touching the surface of the water. The nose of the helicopter pitched down causing the main rotor blades to strike the water. The helicopter became inverted, sinking immediately. The elapsed time between the boom tip contacting the water and the helicopter becoming inverted was approximately three seconds." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions in reference to the survey flight.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,650 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 12,650 as pilot in command; 382 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,819 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PCW Port Clinton OH at 2:00 pm
- Destination: PCW
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from ONZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.