Factual Report: Pipeline helo lost power

MD 369D, Columbus, Mont., May 28, 2007– The commercial pilot and one crewmember were seriously injured and a second crew-member was killed when the Dylan Aviation MD 369 crashed during an attempted forced landing, after the helicopter had lost power.

The pipeline patrol helicopter was in a stationary hover at about 120 feet agl when power was lost. The pilot initiated an autorotation to land. The helicopter landed upright, but the impact forces were high enough to seriously injure both front-seat crewmembers and distorted the airframe. The back-seat crewmember died before the start of the fire that consumed the helicopter.