Md Helicopter Inc 530 (369FF) accident near Camp Butler, IQ
On July 17, 2009, a Md Helicopter Inc 530 (369FF) (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Camp Butler, IQ. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 17, 2009
- Place
- Camp Butler, IQ
- Aircraft
- Md Helicopter Inc 530 (369FF) · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.233°N, 44.917°E
- NTSB ID
- 20090724X13440
Official records · ERA09FA419
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 17, 2009, about 0830 coordinated universal time (1130 local time), an MD Helicopters MD-530 (369FF), N974BW, operated by Presidential Airways, Inc., was destroyed when it impacted terrain at Camp Butler, about 20 miles east of Baghdad, Iraq. The copilot and the left door gunner were fatally injured, while the pilot in command (PIC) and the right door gunner were seriously injured. The right door gunner subsequently succumbed to his injuries on February 8, 2010. The aerial gunnery training flight was operating on a company flight plan under military training range regulations. Under the provisions of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, and by mutual agreement, the Iraqi government delegated the investigation to the United States. The Iraq Civil Aviation Authority designated an accredited representative to the investigation on behalf of the government of Iraq. According to the PIC, his was one of two helicopters that had arrived at Camp Butler from Baghdad, each with two pilots and two door gunners onboard. Crewmembers of the other helicopter reported that the accident helicopter first landed at the range to provide a radio to range personnel, while the second helicopter loitered to the south. After the radio transfer, both helicopters proceeded to the range, and conducted a "range sweep." Both helicopters subsequently completed firing runs, and while the accident helicopter was conducting additional training, the second helicopter was orbiting off range, to the south, and none of its crewmembers saw the accident. During a tel
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during a low-level course reversal.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
