# Accident 20000603041489A: Hughes 269C1, Portmouth, VA, June 3, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 3, 2000, 09:50 local time
- Place: Portmouth, VA
- Airport: Hampton Roads Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Engine Run-Up
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8006° N, 76.4204° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8006&lon=-76.4204&mi=10
- Aircraft: N721CB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N721CB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer 269C-1 (registry code 8059504, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HO-360 series (registry code 41513, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C1
- Reported engine: LYC HO360C1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000603041489A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC00LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA152), Jun 3, 2000: Schweizer 269-C1 (N721CB), Chesapeake, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the student pilot to reduce the friction on the cyclic prior to raising the collective for the magneto check. A factor was the failure of the company to adequately define the steps in…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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