2020 MD 600N Helicopter Accident Near Heja Lodge, Namibia (V5-HVD)

Accident Overview and Investigation Status On July 16, 2020, a privately owned, Namibian-registered McDonnell Douglas MD 600N helicopter, registration V5-HVD, crashed near Heja Lodge, Windhoek, Namibia. The Directorate of Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigations (DAAII) released an interim report on August 12, 2021, following a preliminary report issued on August 4, 2020. The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with accredited representatives from the United States, the state of design and manufacture. ## Flight Details and Sequence of Events The helicopter departed Grootfontein at approximately 09:00 local time for a private flight to Eros Airport, carrying one pilot and three passengers. During the approach into Windhoek, about 6.6 miles from Eros Airport, the pilot declared a mayday after experiencing a sudden and immediate power loss. The pilot attempted an autorotative landing, avoiding high-voltage power lines, but lost control and struck the ground at a shallow angle. The aircraft tumbled down a ravine and came to rest halfway down a cliff. ## Casualties and Aircraft Damage All four occupants survived. The pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries, while the other two passengers sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was destroyed. ## Aircraft and Personnel Information The MD 600N is a single-engine, rotary-wing aircraft manufactured in the United States in 1997. It features a NOTAR anti-torque system and a teardrop-shaped semi-monocoque fuselage. The aircraft's serial number was RN 005, and its engine serial number was CAE 847820. The pilot was a 47-year-old Namibian national with a valid helicopter license and a first-class medical certificate. He had 538.6 total flight hours, including 280.5 hours on type. ## Investigation and Technical Analysis The engine was extensively damaged and could not be function-tested. Investigators recovered the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and sent it to a manufacturer-approved facility in South Africa for data download. A Garmin Aera 795 GPS unit was sent to the NTSB recorder facility in the United States, where raw data was used to reconstruct the final flight path. ATC audio recordings were also sent to the NTSB to determine rotor speed, engine speed, and main rotor transmission speed during communications. ## Meteorological Conditions The source provides meteorological data from Arnsberg-Menden Airfield, stating visual meteorological conditions with wind from 080° at 4 knots, CAVOK clouds, visibility over 10 km, temperature 9°C, dewpoint -5°C, and QNH 1037 hPa. ## Safety Recommendations and Conclusion No safety recommendations were issued at the time of the interim report. Delays in the investigation were attributed to the pandemic, which postponed the arrival of engine and airframe manufacturer experts in Namibia until July 2021. Several components, including the Generator Control Unit, Quad Digital Indicator, Dual Analog Indicator, ECU, and Permanent Magnetic Alternator, were shipped to manufacturer laboratories for further examination.