What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) See narrative #NYC00LA152 (.4) the student pilot was conducting a magneto check with a 90-degree gusty crosswind. As she raised the collective for the check, the helicopter started to wobble and then rolled over. The helicopter was parked on terrain that sloped away from the wind. The student pilot reported that she tried to move the cyclic into the wind to control the wobbling, but she had applied friction to the collective to the point that she could not move it while raising the collective for the magneto check. The FAA approved checklist called for the cyclic and collective frictions to be removed prior to the magneto check. The operator's checklist did not require the removal of the cyclic friction prior to magneto check. However, the operator reported that students were taught never to tighten the cyclic or friction to a degree that it could be moved if needed. (-23) student pilot was conducting a ground runup in the helicopter, a Schweizer 269 C-1. The heading of the aircraft was 280 degrees with a wind from 360 to 040 degrees at 10 gusting to 14 knots. The helicopter was on a slig ht slope. She started to perform the mag check but the helicopter started turning to the right. At the runup speed, the tail rotor was ineffective. Collective was increased, the helicopter lifted up and rolled to the left.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) SEE NARRATIVE #NYC00LA152 (.4) THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A MAGNETO CHECK WITH A 90-DEGREE GUSTY CROSSWIND. AS SHE RAISED THE COLLECTIVE FOR THE CHECK, THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO WOBBLE AND THEN ROLLED OVER. THE HELICOPTER WAS PARKED ON TERRAIN THAT SLOPED AWAY FROM THE WIND. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT SHE TRIED TO MOVE THE CYCLIC INTO THE WIND TO CONTROL THE WOBBLING, BUT SHE HAD APPLIED FRICTION TO THE COLLECTIVE TO THE POINT THAT SHE COULD NOT MOVE IT WHILE RAISING THE COLLECTIVE FOR THE MAGNETO CHECK. THE FAA APPROVED CHECKLIST CALLED FOR THE CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE FRICTIONS TO BE REMOVED PRIOR TO THE MAGNETO CHECK. THE OPERATOR'S CHECKLIST DID NOT REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF THE CYCLIC FRICTION PRIOR TO MAGNETO CHECK. HOWEVER, THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT NEVER TO TIGHTEN THE CYCLIC OR FRICTION TO A DEGREE THAT IT COULD BE MOVED IF NEEDED. (-23) STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A GROUND RUNUP IN THE HELICOPTER, A SCHWEIZER 269 C-1. THE HEADING OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS 280 DEGREES WITH A WIND FROM 360 TO 040 DEGREES AT 10 GUSTING TO 14 KNOTS. THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A SLIG HT SLOPE. SHE STARTED TO PERFORM THE MAG CHECK BUT THE HELICOPTER STARTED TURNING TO THE RIGHT. AT THE RUNUP SPEED, THE TAIL ROTOR WAS INEFFECTIVE. COLLECTIVE WAS INCREASED, THE HELICOPTER LIFTED UP AND ROLLED TO THE LEFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.