MD Helicopters Inc MD 902 incident near Salinas, California, July 21, 2008
On July 21, 2008 at about 7:07 pm local time, a MD Helicopters Inc MD 902, registered N902CS, suffered minor damage in an incident during landing near Salinas, California (Salinas Municipal Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control due to the fatigue failure of the threaded portion of the forward directional control cable as a result of the improper installation a lock washer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2008 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Salinas, California · Salinas Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- MD Helicopters Inc MD 902
- Registration
- N902CS · no longer on the register · serial 900-00123
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the approach to land, the pilot reported that he brought the helicopter to an 8- to 10-foot hover when the nose broke to the right and the helicopter started an uncommanded right spin. The pilot's attempt to correct with full left pedal failed to stop the spin. The pilot then initiated a hovering autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and minor damage to the landing skids. The postaccident airframe inspection revealed that the threaded portion of the rear of the forward directional control cable of the no tail rotor (NOTAR) had separated. The forward directional control cable and the rotating cone control rod of the NOTAR, as well as associated hardware, were sent to an NTSB specialist for a detailed examination. The examination of the cable and associated hardware revealed that the cable had failed in fatigue due to the misplacement of the lock washer that was located between the cable's telescopic part and the rotating cone control rod.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during landing defining event
- Autorotation Hard landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Rotorcraft flight control › Tail rotor control system › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,200 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 4,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 5, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 55 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2008; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt And Whitney - Canada PW207E (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt And Whitney - Canada PW207E (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: California Shock Trauma Air Rescue
The flight
- Departed from: RMC San Jose CA at 6:40 pm
- Destination: SNS Salinas CA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from SNS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
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.