# NTSB ATL07CA103: Schweizer 269C-1, N61447, Immokalee, FL, July 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 12, 2007, 07:11 local (11:11 UTC) - Place: Immokalee, FL - Coordinates: 26.423334, -81.400558 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4233&lon=-81.4006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Miami FSDO-19 - NTSB case key (mKey): 66194 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66194/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA103 ## Probable cause The pilot left the helicopter unattended with the engine operating which resulted in an inadvertent rollover. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, standing - idling rotors - improper use of procedure, pilot in command - aircraft unattended/engine(s) running - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - dynamic rollover - inadvertent ## Analysis The pilot stated that he conducted the preflight checks of his helicopter and everything checked out fine. He started the helicopter and everything was "normal". He picked the helicopter up to a hover and taxied over to the airport's fuel pumps. The pilot brought the rpm back to 1,800 rpm, and put the friction on the cyclic and collective. The pilot stated that his passenger was sitting on the left hand side, and before he got out of the helicopter he asked him not to touch the controls. The pilot proceeded over to the fuel credit card system when he heard a noise. He looked behind him and the helicopter was rolling over on its side. The helicopter hit the ground and the engine stopped. The pilot asked the passenger to switch off the master switch, and then he helped him out of the helicopter. The pilot stated that he would not "Hot Refuel" on his own in the future. The airport manager reported that the pilot has been told many times that "Hot Refueling" was prohibited at this airport. In the airport operation instruction manual section 4.02 Fueling Operations (a.1) states: "No aircraft shall be fueled or de-fueled while one or more of its engines are running or the aircraft is being warmed by external heat". ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he conducted the preflight checks of his helicopter and everything checked out fine. He started the helicopter and everything was "normal". He picked the helicopter up to a hover and taxied over to the airport's fuel pumps. The pilot brought the rpm back to 1,800 rpm, and put the friction on the cyclic and collective. The pilot stated that his passenger was sitting on the left hand side, and before he got out of the helicopter he asked him not to touch the controls. The pilot proceeded over to the fuel credit card system when he heard a noise. He looked behind him and the helicopter was rolling over on its side. The helicopter hit the ground and the engine stopped. The pilot asked the passenger to switch off the master switch, and then he helped him out of the helicopter. The pilot stated that he would not "Hot Refuel" on his own in the future. The airport manager reported that the pilot has been told many times that "Hot Refueling" was prohibited at this airport. In the airport operation instruction manual section 4.02 Fueling Operations (a.1) states: "No aircraft shall be fueled or de-fueled while one or more of its engines are running or the aircraft is being warmed by external heat". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61447](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61447), registered now, S/N 0007, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 269C-1 - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1) (registry code 8059504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0007 - Airframe hours: 7.6 - Engines: Lycoming HO-360-C1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jarlath P O'Brien, doing business as O'Brien Helicopters Incorporated - Registered owner: O'Brien Helicopters Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007, 3,285.6 hours before - Departed: IMM, IMMOKALEE, FL - Destination: IMM, IMMOKALEE, FL - Airport: IMM, Immokalee ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2007; flight hours: 6,100 total, 15 in this make and model, 5,900 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KRSW, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070712018059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070712018059A), Jul 12, 2007: Hughes 269C1, Immokalee, FL, Substantial damage. (-23)On 7/12/07, 7:08 EST at imm fueling station, the pilot [privacy data omitted] attempted to hot refuel helicopter N61447, serial number 0007. During this… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.