# NTSB CEN14CA513: Schweizer 269C, N1675U, Grand Forks, ND, September 22, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 22, 2014, 15:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Grand Forks, ND - Coordinates: 47.952777, -97.175552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9528&lon=-97.1756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 90130 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA513 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90130/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90130 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA513 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a tail rotor strike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); 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) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction was performing a practice 180-degree autorotation. Just prior to touchdown, the flight instructor perceived an abrupt loss in altitude, followed by a hard landing and tail rotor strike, which substantially damaged the tail rotor. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot receiving instruction was performing a practice 180-degree autorotation. Just prior to touchdown, the flight instructor perceived an abrupt loss in altitude, followed by a hard landing and tail rotor strike, which substantially damaged the tail rotor. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1675U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1675U-2020-12-05), registration cancelled 2020-12-05, S/N S1878, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C (UNDESIGNAT) - 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: S1878 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 3590 - Engines: Lycoming HIO 360 190 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: Continuous airworthiness, September 2, 2014 - Departed: GFK, Grand Forks, ND - Destination: GFK, Grand Forks, ND - Airport: GFK, Grand Forks Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 2, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,804 total, 1,173 in this make and model, 3,595 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 259 total, 81 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: GFK ## 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 20140922017309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140922017309A), Sep 22, 2014: Schweizer 269C, Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. Weather was VMC with light to moderate headwinds for the runway. The flight was an instruction flight to prepare a commercial pilot for an additional flight… ## Other investigations on N1675U (1) 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 CHI06CA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA168), Jun 17, 2006: Schweizer 269C (N1675U), Grand Forks, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The dual student's failure to maintain rotor speed during the recovery from the intentional autorotation and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. Contributing factors were the flight… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90130. 230 KB in all. - NTSB 6120.1 accident report (item 1, .PDF, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%206120.1%20accident%20report-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.