ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 178689
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Tuesday 3 March 1998 |
| Time: | 09:35 LT |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas MD 600N |
| Owner/operator: | McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems |
| Registration: | N9204D |
| MSN: | RN004 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | Falcon Field, Mesa, AZ -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Test |
| Departure airport: | Falcon Field, Mesa, AZ |
| Falcon Field, Mesa, AZ | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
On February 3, 1998, at 0935 hours mountain standard time, an MD600N, N9204D, experienced a hard landing while performing an autorotative landing at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a test flight by Boeing Mesa when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Mesa at 0736 on the morning of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.
At the time of the accident, the pilot was in the process of verifying a theoretical height/velocity performance data point. He had entered an autorotation at 14 feet agl and 30 knots airspeed while at takeoff power, and a gross weight of 4,100 pounds. The planned entry point was 10 feet agl and 20 knots airspeed. The onboard telemetry verified that the pilot had reduced the throttle to flight idle at the entry point. After the throttle reduction, however, the remaining momentum allowed the aircraft to accelerate to 30 knots and climb an additional 23 feet agl. During the subsequent descent, the main rotor rpm decayed and an excessive vertical sink rate developed. The aircraft landed hard at the intended touchdown point, while in a near level attitude. The aircraft was hover-taxied from the landing area and a normal shutdown was completed.
The aircraft was hover-taxied from the landing area and a normal shutdown was completed. The test pilot reported that the height/velocity data point was outside the aircraft's performance capabilities.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
the attempt by flight test engineers to verify a height/velocity data point that was subsequently shown to be outside the aircraft's performance capabilities.
Sources:
WAAS
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 3 February 1998 | N9204D | Boeing Aircraft | 0 | Mesa, AZ | |
sub |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Aug-2015 14:50 | Aerossurance | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation