# NTSB CEN11LA397: Schweizer 269C, N2077E, Grand Forks, ND, June 15, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2011, 14:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Grand Forks, ND
- Coordinates: 47.961387, -97.400833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9614&lon=-97.4008&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 December 1, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FAR-FSDO, NTSB
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80797
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA397
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80797/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80797
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA397

## Probable cause

The student pilot's inadequate recovery from an autorotation and the CFI's delayed remedial action.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student were performing a simulated forced landing which was to terminate with power. The student flared about 50 feet above the ground while the CFI monitored the rotor and engine rpm. The student used the collective to reduce the forward speed and rate of descent, and the engine rpm was increased to recover from the autorotation. The CFI reported that the helicopter was slightly tail-low, and it yawed slightly as the power was increased. The CFI took over the controls to level the skids and straighten the heading as the helicopter continued to sink. The helicopter continued to descend making a “light touch down” and run-on landing. The CFI reported that during the level-off and ground contact, they heard a metal-on-metal type of sound. A postaccident inspection of the helicopter revealed two of the main rotor blades had contacted the tailboom.

## Factual narrative

On June 15, 2011, at 1450 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N2077E, operated by the University of North Dakota, sustained substantial damage to the tailboom while recovering from a practice autorotation in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The certified flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota, at 1430. The flight instructor and student were performing a simulated forced landing which was to terminate with power when the accident occurred. The student lowered the collective to enter the autorotation and set the trim and pitch to maintain the recommended airspeed. The instructor adjusted the collective during the autorotation in order to prevent an overspeed and the student began the flare at an altitude of about 50 feet above the ground. The instructor stated the rotor revolutions per minute (rpm) were within the green arc and the engine was at 2,600 rpm. The student used the collective to reduce the forward speed and rate of descent. The engine power was then increased to recover from the autorotation and the instructor noted the engine rpm needle moving up through 3,000 rpm. The instructor reported the helicopter was slightly tail low and it yawed slightly as the power was increased. The instructor took over the controls to level the skids and straighten the heading as the helicopter continued to sink. The helicopter continued to descend making a “light touch down” and run-on landing. The instructor reported that during the level-off and ground contact, they heard a metal on metal type sound. Postaccident inspection of the helicopter revealed two of the main rotor blades had contacted the tailboom. The helicopter was equipped with a Appareo RMS-2000 flight data recorder. The data downloaded from the recorder is included in the docket for this report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2077E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2077E-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N S1844, built 2003 (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: S1844
- Airframe hours: 4453
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
- Registered owner: University Of North Dakota
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 25, 2011, 24 hours before
- Departed: Grand Forks, ND
- Destination: Grand Forks, ND

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 40; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 26, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 520 total, 221 in this make and model, 374 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.61 inHg

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80797. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Data Recorder 10 - Specialist's Factual Report (item 2, .PDF, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351067&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=%20Data%20Recorder%2010%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20-Master.PDF
- Data Recorder 10 - supporting Data - Attachment 1 (item 3, .CSV, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351069&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Data%20Recorder%2010%20-%20supporting%20Data%20-%20Attachment%201-Master.csv

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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