# NTSB CEN10LA408: Schweizer 269C, N410JM, Minden, NE, July 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2010, 20:50 local (Jul 19, 2010, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Minden, NE - Coordinates: 40.499046, -98.949241 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4990&lon=-98.9492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76671 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA408 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76671/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76671 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA408 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate flare during an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis While en route to the destination airport, the pilot began detecting heavy vibrations emanating from the helicopter. He performed a scan of the engine instruments, all of which indicated that it was operating within the normal ranges. Unsure of the malfunction, the pilot elected to perform a cautionary autorotation to a plowed field. During the autorotation, the pilot landed hard and the helicopter subsequently rolled over. During the touchdown sequence the helicopter incurred substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact anomaly. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2010, approximately 2050 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N410JM, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain during a precautionary landing near Minden, Nebraska. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed Pioneer Village Field (0V3), Minden, Nebraska, at approximately 2000. According to a written statement provided by the pilot, the helicopter was approximately four miles from 0V3, at an altitude of 2,550 feet mean sea level, when the helicopter began producing vibrations. The pilot described the vibrations as "heavy" and at a "slow frequency." A scan of the engine instruments did not reveal any abnormalities with the helicopter, although the gages were difficult to read due to the heavy vibrations. The pilot chose to perform a precautionary autorotation to a field. Prior to touchdown, the pilot increased his flare in order to reduce ground-run. The helicopter made a hard impact with the ground and rolled before coming to rest on the helicopter's left side. An inspector from the local Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the helicopter and engine. The inspector did not find any signature of pre-impact failure or malfunction of any component. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N410JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N410JM-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N S1906, built 2007 (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-D1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-d1a) (registry code 41893, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: S1906 - Airframe hours: 1482 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dakota Equipment Sales And Leasing LLC - Registered owner: Dakota Equipment Sales And Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 18, 2010, 35 hours before - Departed: 0V3, Minden, NE - Destination: 0V3, Minden, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 29, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 574 total, 341 in this make and model, 407 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KEAR, 14 nm away ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76671. 416 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 416 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.