# NTSB CEN21LA081: Schweizer 269C, N2081G, Rhame, ND, November 7, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 7, 2020, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Rhame, ND - Coordinates: 46.232506, -103.65547 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2325&lon=-103.6555&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102392/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102392 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA081 ## Probable cause The pilot landed the helicopter on unsuitable terrain, which resulted in a rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting an off-airport landing in a helicopter. After landing, the pilot lowered the collective to transfer the weight to the skids, the left skid slid into a deep, overgrown rut, and the helicopter to rolled onto its left side. The rotor blades impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. Also, the left side of the fuselage was crushed inward, and the tail rotor drive shaft fractured. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had looked closer at the landing site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2081G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2081G-2025-01-25), registration cancelled 2025-01-25, S/N S1845, 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: S1845 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 5500 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-DIA 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2020, 20 hours before - Destination: Same as departure ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,867 total, 680 in this make and model, 3,345 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.47 inHg - Observed at: KBWW, 25 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 20201107014879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201107014879A), Nov 7, 2020: Schweizer 269C, Bowman, ND, Substantial damage. The pilot stated had was hovering and looking for a place to set down. He then saw a place he thought was suitable and landed. He stated as he landed the skid… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102392. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11798306&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Thomas%20Nagle%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - PIC record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11798865&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIC%20Conversation%20Record-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11815646&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.