20230710009279A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Schweizer 269C-1 · Titusville, FL · July 10, 2023

Date: July 10, 2023 · 10:30 local
Place: Titusville, FL
Airport: Space Coast Regional
Phase of flight: Other, Specify
Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
Operator: HIAS
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N21409
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN23LA301
Reported as: Schweizer 269C-1
Reported engine: Lycoming HIO-360-G1A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 36 total36 in this make and model36 in the last 90 days

N21409Registration cancelled Sep 26, 2023 · Schweizer 269C-1S/N 0365 · Built 2009 Airframe modelSchweizer 269C-1 Engine modelLycoming HIO-360-G1AReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Student pilot return to parking spot after performing solo local traffic pattern flight. Pilot decide to perform a “RPM check” before shutting down the engine. Indicated by pilot statement of events the aircraft suddenly became airborne and came to rest about 45 degree to the left and 100 feet away where the aircraft was parked. The aircraft rotor system made contact with ground and aircraft was destroyed.

As the FAA filed it

STUDENT PILOT RETURN TO PARKING SPOT AFTER PERFORMING SOLO LOCAL TRAFFIC PATTERN FLIGHT. PILOT DECIDE TO PERFORM A “RPM CHECK” BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE. INDICATED BY PILOT STATEMENT OF EVENTS THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY BECAME AIRBORNE AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 45 DEGREE TO THE LEFT AND 100 FEET AWAY WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS PARKED. THE AIRCRAFT ROTOR SYSTEM MADE CONTACT WITH GROUND AND AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN23LA301Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTitusville, FLThe student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while on the ground when his attention was diverted for post flight activities.Jul 10, 2023 · Substantial damage