MD Helicopters INC 369FF accident near Ceiba, Puerto Rico, April 9, 2024
On April 9, 2024 at about 1:45 pm local time, a 1999 MD Helicopters INC 369FF, registered N5841Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Ceiba, Puerto Rico (Jose Aponte De La Torre airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots’ failure to ensure adequate clearance from the taxiway while performing a quick stop maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2024 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ceiba, Puerto Rico · Jose Aponte De La Torre · 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 1999 · all 369FFs on the register
- Registration
- N5841Z · registry record · serial 0135FF
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident pilot was new to the company, and he and the chief pilot were practicing quick stop maneuvers in the helicopter. The pilots reported that while performing a quick stop maneuver over a taxiway, they heard a noise before the nose of the helicopter began turning right and the skids touched down. Postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that its horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged. Photographs of the horizontal stabilizer and tail rotor displayed signatures consistent with both contacting the ground during the quick stop maneuver. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter 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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,780 hours in all; 4.5 in this make and model; 94.9 in the last 90 days; 36.9 in the last 30 days; 1,740 as pilot in command; 20 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 29, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 12, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,562.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 26, 2024; 55.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce RR250-C30 (turboshaft); 803 hours total
- Operator: Luma Energy Servco, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TJSJ San Juan PR at 12:45 pm
- Destination: TJRU Ceiba PR
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from TJNR
Weather report (METAR): TJNR 091353Z AUTO 06010G16KT 10SM BKN028 OVC036 26/21 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP183 T02610211 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 8, 2024. 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, 22 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� 6120.1 Form Clarification | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA24LA172.