# Accident 20010127029699A: Hughes 269C, Damon, TX, January 27, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: January 27, 2001, 16:00 local time - Place: Damon, TX - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 29.2697° N, 95.7199° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2697&lon=-95.7199&mi=10 - Aircraft: N99DK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99DK-2017-02-17) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Schweizer 269C (registry code 8059502, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C - Reported engine: LYC HIO360D1A - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 2,330 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW01LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA053) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010127029699A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.4) ON JANUARY 27, 2001, AT 1600 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A SCHWEIZER 269C HELICOPTER, N99DK, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT ROLLED OVER DURING TAKEOFF NEAR DAMON, TEXAS. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO CAPE ATLANTIC LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., OF NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA, AND OPERATED BY BARR AIR PATROL OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND OBSERVER WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE HOUSTON AIRPARK AIRPORT, PEARLAND, TEXAS, ABOUT 1500, FOR A POWER LINE PATROL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER OFF AIRPORT DUE TO THE OBSERVER BECOMING SICK. AFTER THE OBSERVER RECOVERED, HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF. WITH THE HELICOPTER HEADED INTO THE WIND, HE INCREASED COLLECTIVE. THE LEFT SKID LIFTED FIRST AND HE APPLIED THE CORRECTION HE "THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE: MORE LEFT STICK/CYCLIC." THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE THEN FELT THE SKID CONTINUE TO RISE, AND HE HAD THE FEELING THAT THE RIGHT SKID WAS "HOOKED" BY THE GROUND. HE APPLIED "FULL LEFT STICK/CYCLIC DEFLECTION AND LOWERED COLLECTIVE." THE PILOT STATED THAT "AT THAT TIME I BELIEVE A WIND SHIFT WITH A GUST BLEW UNDER MY ROTOR AND PUSHED ME OVER." THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE GROUND, AND THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR TRANSMISSION, MAIN ROTOR BLADES, TAIL BOOM, TAIL ROTOR, AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE WERE DAMAGED. (.19) ON JANUARY 27, 2001, AT 1600 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A SCHWEIZER 269C HELICOPTER, N99DK, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT ROLLED OVER DURING TAKEOFF NEAR DAMON, TEXAS. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO CAPE ATLANTIC LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. OF NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA, AND OPERATED BY BARR AIR PATROL OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND OBSERVER WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE HOUSTON AIRPARK AIRPORT EARLIER IN THE DAY FOR A POWER LINE PATROL. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE PILOT LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON A PLATEAU WITHIN AN OPEN FIELD DUE TO THE OBSERVER BECOMING SICK. AFTER THE OBSERVER RECOVERED, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF. AS THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF THE GROUND, THE AFT PORTION OF THE RIGHT SKID CAUGHT ON SOME UNEVEN GROUND, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR TRANSMISSION, MAIN ROTOR BLADES, TAILBOOM, TAIL ROTOR, AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE WERE DAMAGED. (-23) PILOT LANDED OFF AIRPORT TO ACCOMMODATE OBSERVER ILLNESS. ON TAKEOFF, AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER WHEN RIGHT SKID DRAGGED SURFACE. HELICOPTER ROLLED TO RIGHT. MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED GROUND. MAIN ROTOR BLADES, TAIL ROTOR BLADES, TAIL BOOM AND TRANSMISSION WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. PILOT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY COUNSELED ON RECOGNITION OF DYNAMIC ROLLOVER AND AVOIDANCE TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES. ## 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 FTW01LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA053), Jan 27, 2001: Schweizer 269C (N99DK), Damon, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during takeoff to a hover, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.