# Accident 20120526027929A: Schweizer 269C-1, Chesterfield, MO, May 26, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 26, 2012, 12:20 local time
- Place: Chesterfield, MO
- Airport: Spirit Of St Louis
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6622° N, 90.6519° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6622&lon=-90.6519&mi=10
- Aircraft: N345MH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N345MH) (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: SCHWEIZER 269C-1
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360-G1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor, student
- Pilot flight hours: 4,300 total, 7 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA353) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120526027929A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT PILOT PREPARING FOR FIRST SOLO FLIGHT IN A HELICOPTER LANDED WITH INSTRUCTOR ON BOARD.  THE HELICOPTER ENTERED INTO WHAT APPEARED TO BE GROUND RESONANCE.  STUDENT PILOT REDUCED THE THROTTLE TO STOP THE RESONANCE.  THE RESONANCE WENT AWAY AT THAT POINT.  INSTRUCTOR PILOT GOT OUT OF THE HELICOPTER TO LET THE STUDENT PILOT GO FOR FIRST SOLO FLIGHT IN A HELICOPTER.  STUDENT PILOT ROLLED UP THE THROTTLE AND STARTED TO PULL PITCH IN THE BLADES.  THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY.  STUDENT PILOT ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF AND THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY.  THE WINDSCREEN AND OTHER PARTS OF THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO CRACK AND BREAK OFF.  THE STUDENT PILOT PULLED THE MIXTURE TO CUTOFF AND THE OSCILLATIONS STOPPED AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES.  THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME, BLADES, DAMPENERS, TAIL-BOOM, TAIL-ROTOR, DRIVE TRAIN AND ENGINE.

## 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 CEN12LA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA353), May 26, 2012: Schweizer 269C-1 (N345MH), Chesterfield, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The undercharged and overcharged landing gear dampers, which allowed initiation of the ground resonance event from which the pilot was unable to recover due to his limited experience in helicopters.…

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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