# NTSB CEN23LA301: Schweizer 269C-1, N21409, Titusville, FL, July 10, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 10, 2023, 10:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.514806, -80.799222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5148&lon=-80.7992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192618 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192618/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192618 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA301 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while on the ground when his attention was diverted for post flight activities. ## 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-1, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis After completion of a local solo flight, the student pilot was conducting the engine cooling shutdown procedure on the dry ramp when the helicopter suddenly became airborne, climbed about 30ft, and entered a nose down attitude impacting the ground. The helicopter came to rest upright, and the pilot was able to egress from the helicopter without further incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the tail boom, and the tail rotor system. The student pilot reported that he had engaged both the cyclic and collective friction prior to completing other post flight activities. Postaccident examination of the helicopter showed the collective friction to not be fully engaged. The friction was found at an approximate 90-degree angle to the collective lever, which corresponds to the friction not being fully engaged. The helicopter pilot’s flight manual states that the collective friction is to be on for the engine cooling shutdown procedure. No preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal flight operation were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21409](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21409-2023-09-26), registration cancelled 2023-09-26, S/N 0365, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C-1 - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1) (registry code 8059504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360-G1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-g1a) (registry code 41898, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0365 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 4947 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-G1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: US Aviation Training Solutions - Registered owner: US Aviation Training Solutions - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: January 13, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: TIX, Space Coast Regional Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 16, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 36 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KTIX - METAR: KTIX 101447Z 24009KT 7SM SCT028 33/24 A3002 ## 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 20230710009279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230710009279A), Jul 10, 2023: Schweizer 269C-1, Titusville, FL, Destroyed. Student pilot return to parking spot after performing solo local traffic pattern flight. Pilot decide to perform a “RPM check” before shutting down the engine.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192618. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15819250&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%20N21409%202023-07-10%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 860 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15817660&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Schweizer pilot flight manual excerpt (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15818877&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Schweizer%20269C-1%20PFM%20Excerpt-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.