Accident Details
On September 3, 2018, at about 1500 eastern daylight time, a MD Helicopters 369E, registration N1601Y, was substantially damaged when it collided with Canada geese near Orchard Lake, Michigan. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that he intended to conduct a short local flight. The helicopter was positioned on a wheeled transportation dolly at his private heliport. It departed from the dolly and entered an in-ground effect hover. While maneuvering the helicopter to the right of the dolly at a hover, a flock of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) approached from the front and right. The pilot recalled quickly moving the helicopter back to the right to avoid the birds, but could not recollect any actions thereafter until after impact when the helicopter was lying on its side.
Aftermath
The helicopter came to rest on its left side on a flat grass field in front of the heliport. The main rotor blades had separated from the main rotor hub, and the tail rotor gearbox had separated from the tailboom. Emergency services personnel extracted the pilot from the wreckage. The pilot sustained serious injuries to his head and body; a review of medical records indicated impact injuries to the left side of the face and right side of the head. The pilot was not wearing a flight helmet, nor was he required to do so.
In response to the accident, the NTSB investigator-in-charge proposed that the manufacturer produce educational guidance encouraging pilots to wear flight helmets. The manufacturer agreed and issued MD Helicopters Operational Safety Notice OSN2019-002, "Aviation Life Support Equipment – Flight Helmets," in April 2019.
Wildlife Strike
The pilot's private heliport is located about 350 feet south of Upper Straits Lake in a residential area. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services, Canada geese build nests on the ground near water and consume grass and aquatic plants. The USDA further states that "Canada geese can collide with aircraft causing fatal results."