# Incident 20190524011159I: Schweizer 269C, Riverside, CA, May 24, 2019

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 2019, 13:45 local time
- Place: Riverside, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9519° N, 117.4450° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9519&lon=-117.4450&mi=10
- Aircraft: N269P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N269P-2019-12-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer 269C (registry code 8059502, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (registry code 41893, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-d1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 69 total, 41 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA284) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190524011159I

## Narrative

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

THIS PART 91 FLIGHT WAS INTENDED TO BE A SUPERVISED SOLO IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. REPORTED WINDS 290/05 KNOTS.  STUDENT AND CFI PERFORMED THREE DUAL TRAFFIC PATTERNS TO THE RIVERSIDE AIRPORT (RAL) RUNWAY 16 HELICOPTER PRACTICE AREA.  THE STUDENT PILOT AND HER CFI PRACTICED SEVERAL TAKEOFF, HOVER, AND LANDING MANEUVERS IN PREPARATION FOR THE STUDENT'S SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT.

PRIOR TO LEAVING THE AIRCRAFT, THE CFI REMINDED THE STUDENT PILOT ABOUT THE LATERAL CG SHIFT WHEN THE RIGHT SEAT PASSENGER IS NO LONGER IN THE SEAT.  NOTE: THE CFI'S WEIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY 220 LBS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

THE CFI LEFT THE AIRCRAFT TO WAIT AT AN AREA ON THE VOR ANTENNA WALKWAY 50 YARDS WEST-NORTHWEST OF THE TAKEOFF POINT.  THE CFI OBSERVED THE STUDENT PILOT START TO LIFT THE AIRCRAFT INTO A HOVER.  AT THIS POINT N269C ROTATED RAPIDLY 180 DEGREES TO THE LEFT BEFORE SETTING DOWN FIRMLY.

THE AFT CROSS BEAM AND LEFT SIDE DRAG ON THE LANDING GEAR WERE DAMAGED.  THE TIPS OF BOTH TAIL ROTOR BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH GROUND CONTACT AND WERE DAMAGED.  THE OTHER TAIL ROTOR ROTATING COMPONENTS APPEARED INTACT AND UNDAMAGED.  N269C REMAINED UPRIGHT WITH NO INJURIES TO THE CREW.

## 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 GAA19CA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA284), May 24, 2019: Schweizer 269C (N269P), Riverside, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain yaw control and the engine's rpm during transition to a hover, which resulted in hard landing.

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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