On January 31, 1999, at 1445 hours Pacific standard time, a McDonnell Douglas 369D, N58431, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The commercial licensed pilot and one observer/passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight which was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a public-use aircraft by the Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit.

The unit supervisor reported that the pilot was performing a practice autorotative landing to touchdown when, during the landing flare, the tail stinger contacted the ground. The helicopter landed hard and the main rotor blades then flexed downward severing the tail boom.