# Accident 20241002018379A: Schweizer 269C, Montrose, CO, October 2, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 2024, 18:39 local time
- Place: Montrose, CO
- Airport: Montrose Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.4820° N, 107.8728° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4820&lon=-107.8728&mi=10
- Aircraft: N656RB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N656RB) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,044 total, 62 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA003) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241002018379A

## Narrative

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

ON 10/02/2024, A PILOT FLYING A SCHWEIZER 269C HELICOPTER WITH A REGISTRATION NUMBER OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS TAKING ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ON A FLIGHT DEPARTING FROM THE MONTROSE REGIONAL AIRPORT IN MONTROSE, COLORADO. THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT AT 1822(L) AND FLEW EAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT DECIDED TO DEMONSTRATE AN AUTOROTATION TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING AFT CYCLIC AND RIGHT PEDAL, THE PILOT THEN ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF ON THE PILOT’S COLLECTIVE. A SHORT MOMENT LATER, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE DID NOT GO TO IDLE, BUT THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN INFLIGHT RESTART, BUT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE PILOT REALIZED HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE HIS INTENDED TOUCHDOWN SPOT. THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO THE CLOSEST OPEN FIELD WITH MOSTLY LEVEL GROUND BUT IN AN AREA WITH SAGEBRUSH. AS THE PILOT LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE DECELL, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SLIDE OVER THE OPEN FIELD ON THE AIRCRAFT SKIDS. DURING THE SLIDE, THE LEFT SKID CAUGHT AND SIMULTANEOUSLY BROKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT. THE HELICOPTER FELL TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE.

## 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 CEN25LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA003), Oct 3, 2024: Schweizer 269C (N656RB), Montrose, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power during a demonstrated autorotation due to an improperly adjusted air-fuel mixture or idle setting. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to perform the required…

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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