MD Helicopter INC 369FF accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, December 31, 2014
On December 31, 2014 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2010 MD Helicopter INC 369FF, registered N530KK, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was a public-use flight (local) under public-use (government) rules. 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination and testing did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2014 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- MD Helicopter INC 369FF, built 2010
- Registration
- N530KK · no longer on the register · serial 0174FF
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was conducting a local public flight. He reported that, about 7 minutes into the flight, while the helicopter was orbiting over a fixed area, he noticed the engine and rotor rpm decrease. The pilot rolled the helicopter out of the orbit, and the engine and rotor rpm stabilized momentarily at 97%. The pilot then attempted to increase the engine and rotor rpm while turning the helicopter toward a nearby airport. During the maneuver, the engine and rotor rpm decreased rapidly. The pilot entered an autorotation and executed an emergency landing. The helicopter then landed hard, and the tail impacted the ground and separated from the airframe. A postaccident examination of the airframe and the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. During an engine test run, the engine produced rated power. Examination of the fuel system revealed no anomalies, and a fuel sample taken from the helicopter tested positive as jet fuel (Jet A). The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,733 hours in all; 2,108 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 2,524 as pilot in command; 189 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 18, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,858 hours in all; 2,336 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,314 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 31, 2014; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C30 (turboshaft); 10,103 hours total
- Operator: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The flight
- Departed from: KVGT North Las Vegas NV at 9:22 pm
- Destination: KVGT North Las Vegas NV
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KVGT, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on August 17, 2017. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Wreckage Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Mdhi Exam Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Rolls Royce Engine Exam Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Rolls Royce Email Regarding B-nut | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Fuel Testing Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.