MD Helicopter INC 369E accident near Atlanta, Georgia, January 20, 2009
On January 20, 2009 at about 7:30 pm local time, a MD Helicopter INC 369E, registered N369PD, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Atlanta, Georgia (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int). It was a public-use flight (local) under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Wind gusts during engine shutdown, which resulted in the main rotor blades contacting the tailboom.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 20, 2009 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- MD Helicopter INC 369E
- Registration
- N369PD · registry record · serial 0557E
- 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 pilot was informed before landing about the wind direction and velocity (330 degrees at 18 knots with gusts to 28 knots). After an uneventful landing he began shutdown of the helicopter. He applied down collective and friction, and following a 2-minute cooldown period for the engine he closed the throttle and guarded the cyclic control. When the main rotor was at 200 rpm, he felt a wind gust from the right side of the helicopter and then heard a loud sound. He applied the rotor brake and exited the helicopter after the main rotor blades stopped. At that time he noted damage to the main rotor blades and also to the tailboom.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Rotorcraft tail boom › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 986 hours in all; 720 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 762 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,395 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 11, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 SER (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: City Of Atlanta Police Department
The flight
- Departed from: ATL Atlanta GA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: ATL Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 23 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from ATL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.