# NTSB CHI06CA131: Schweizer 269C, N7506L, Lees Summit, MO, May 12, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 12, 2006, 15:25 local (20:25 UTC) - Place: Lees Summit, MO - Coordinates: 38.955554, -94.371391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9556&lon=-94.3714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 63793 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63793/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA131 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delay in taking remedial action which led to the hard landing during the practice autorotation. The misjudged glide path, the dual student restricting the throttle control, and the trees were factors in the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - misjudged, flightcrew (contributing factor) - throttle/power control - restricted, dual student (contributing factor) - relinquishing of control - not performed, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - rotor rpm (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The helicopter was damaged when it impacted the ground hard during a practice autorotation. The certified flight instructor stated that he and his student were performing a practice autorotation when he realized that they would not be able to clear the trees at the edge of the landing area. He stated that he took control of the helicopter and attempted to add power but could not due to resistance in the throttle system due to his student not relinquishing control. He stated that he may have pulled some collective in order to just clear the trees, and then flared the helicopter. He said that the helicopter impacted the ground in a level attitude and eventually came to rest on its left side. ## Factual narrative On May 12, 2006, about 1525 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N7506L, piloted by a certified flight instructor (CFI), and a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it landed hard and rolled on its side during a practice autorotation near Lees Summit, Missouri. The training flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There were no injuries. The local flight originated from the Lees Summit Municipal Airport (LXT), about 1500. The CFI reported that his student was training for an add on helicopter CFI rating. He reported that they had performed three touch down autorotations at LXT earlier in the flight. The CFI stated that he and his student were performing a practice autorotation when he realized that they would not be able to clear the trees at the edge of the landing area. He stated that he took control of the helicopter and attempted to add power but could not due to resistance in the throttle system due to his student not relinquishing control. He stated that he may have pulled some collective in order to just clear the trees, and then flared the helicopter. He said that the helicopter impacted the ground in a level attitude and eventually came to rest on its left side. He reported that there were no mechanical failure of the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7506L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7506L-2008-10-07), registration cancelled 2008-10-07, S/N S1286, built 1987 (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: 1286 - Airframe hours: 4918 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2006 - Departed: LXT, Lees Summit, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 44; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,750 total, 550 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2005; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20060512008459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060512008459A), May 12, 2006: Hughes 269C, Lees Summit, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the CFI, his instructor student entered autorotation with intention of touching down on cfi's private property. It became apparent that they… 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.