# NTSB CEN11CA442: Schweizer 269C, N72DC, Katy, TX, July 3, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 3, 2011, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Katy, TX - Coordinates: 29.727222, -95.899719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7272&lon=-95.8997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA442 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80966/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80966 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA442 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm during a low-altitude maneuvering flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: 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) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during an aerial application flight, the helicopter pilot was flying between 6 and 7 feet above the ground, at an airspeed of 20 knots. While maneuvering, the pilot encountered a low rotor rpm situation and the helicopter started to settle. As soon as the helicopter descended, the landing skid became tangled in the rice plants, and the helicopter came to rest on its side. During the collision with terrain, the tail boom and main rotor separated from the fuselage. An examination of the helicopter and its systems revealed no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. ## Factual narrative The helicopter pilot was flying between six and seven feet above the ground, at an airspeed of 20 knots, over a field of rice to cross-pollinate the crop. The pilot stated that he encountered a low rotor rpm situation and the helicopter started to settle. As soon as the helicopter descended, the landing skid became tangled in the rice plants, the helicopter impacted the rice field, and came to rest on its side. During the collision with terrain, the tail boom and main rotor separated from the fuselage. An examination of the helicopter and its systems, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72DC-2016-05-23), registration cancelled 2016-05-23, S/N S1624, built 1992 (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: S1624 - Airframe hours: 2094 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Dylan Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Dylan Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 29, 2011 - Departed: Brookshire, TX - Destination: Brookshire, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 337 total, 215 in this make and model, 282 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KSGR ## 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 20110703013639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110703013639A), Jul 3, 2011: Schweizer 269C, Fulshear, TX, Substantial damage. At approximately 1215 CDT, aircraft impacted the ground in a rice field 5.5 miles nw of covey trails airport (X09). Pilot states that he was performing aerial… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80966. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Record of Telephone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Master.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.