Pilot And Crewmember Sustained Serious Injuries When The Aircraft Went Down

The NTSB has released a preliminary report from an accident involving an MD Helicopters 369FF belonging to the Gwinnett County, GA Police Department. The commercial pilot and a pilot-rated crewmember were seriously injured in the loss-of-control accident at Gwinnett County Airport (LZU), Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at LZU about 1000.

According to the report, the pilot reported the following that. T the preflight inspection of the helicopter and en route portions of the flight were uneventful. After about 1one hour on station performing law enforcement duties, the pilot returned to LZU due to approaching weather conditions. While approaching the landing zone, the pilot noted a "strong wind gust" followed by a "sudden, uncommanded, violent, right yaw" and "what seemed to be an uncommanded climb." He applied cyclic and pedal inputs; however, the helicopter continued in a right spin for at least two full rotations until it impacted the ground. The pilots were met by first responders and transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.

An inspector with the FAA responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. He reported that the helicopter came to rest on its right side in the grass, adjacent to a taxiway. There was no fire. Structural damage to the fuselage, tail rotor, and main rotor were confirmed.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

(Source: NTSB. Gwinnett, MD PD MD 369 pictured in Image from YouTube)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov