# Accident 20110729017649A: Schweizer 269C, Darlington, MD, July 29, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 2011, 17:45 local time
- Place: Darlington, MD
- Airport: Private Pad
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6514° N, 76.2369° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6514&lon=-76.2369&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39SH-2014-10-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer 269C (registry code 8059502, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 967 total, 540 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11LA428](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA428) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110729017649A

## Narrative

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

N39SH WAS LANDING AT ONE OF THE OWNERS PRIVATE HELIPORTS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE TOUCHED DOWN AND REDUCED THE COLLECTIVE AND THROTTLE. HE WAS SITTING ON THE GROUND AT LEAST A MINUTE OR MORE ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND SKIP ALONG THE GROUND. ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CHOPPED OFF THE TAIL BOOM. THE LANDING SKID ON THE LEFT SIDE GAVE WAY AND THE HELICOPTER LAID OVER AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE CABIN BROKE AWAY AND THE LEFT SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COLLAPSED AND BROKE APART. THE PILOT WAS TAKEN BY THE HARFORD COUNTY EMT SERVICE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE PILOT HAD A SPRAINED LEFT WRIST AND MINOR INJURIES. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR WATCHING THE HELICOPTER LAND. ONE OF THE FIRST PIECES THAT CAME OFF THE HELICOPTER ALMOST HIT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND HE DUCKED BEHIND THE HANGAR UNTIL THE NOISE STOPPED.

## 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 ERA11LA428](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA428), Jul 29, 2011: Schweizer 269C (N39SH), Darlington, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate maintenance of the helicopter's landing gear dampers, which resulted in a main rotor out-of-balance condition and ground resonance encounter.

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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