# NTSB ATL90LA043: Schweizer 269C, N75068, Norcross, GA, December 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1989, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Norcross, GA
- Coordinates: 33.970993, -84.230384 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9710&lon=-84.2304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8192
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8192/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA043

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER EXECUTION OF THE LANDING PROCEDURE RESULTING IN DYNAMIC ROLL-OVER OF THE HELICOPTER.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - proper alignment - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON A SOLO FLIGHT PRACTICING LIFTOFF TO A HOVER AND LANDING FROM A HOVER. AS THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN, IT BEGAN A ROLL AND THE STUDENT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-ACCIDENT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT A SKID HAD SCRAPED THE SOD AND INDUCED A DYNAMIC ROLL-OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75068](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75068), registered now, S/N S1323, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C
- Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1323
- Airframe hours: 858
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dooley Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 21, 1989, 5 hours before
- Airport: 05GA, Beaver Ruin Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 372 total, 8 in this make and model, 232 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 5 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PDK, 8 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 19891222052949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891222052949A), Dec 22, 1989: Hughes 269C, Norcross, GA, Substantial damage. First solo. Student allowed a skid to scrape ground during hover landing. Helicopter rolled on its side.

## Other investigations on N75068 (3)

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 CHI08CA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA020), Dec 5, 2007: Schweizer 269C (N75068), Hazelton, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed during the intentional autorotation, and his subsequent inability to reduce the descent rate prior to impact. A contributing factor was the…
- [NTSB CHI98LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA332), Sep 4, 1998: Schweizer 269C (N75068), Decker, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance resulting in a collision with a fence.
- [NTSB MIA89LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA018), Oct 28, 1988: Schweizer 269C (N75068), Arcadia, FL, substantial damage

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.

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