# NTSB CHI07CA299: Schweizer 300 CBI, N269HB, Minneapolis, MN, September 13, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 13, 2007, 15:58 local (20:58 UTC) - Place: Minneapolis, MN - Coordinates: 44.627777, -93.228057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6278&lon=-93.2281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66808 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66808/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA299 ## Probable cause The dual student's improper flare during the simulated autorotation, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - simulated, flightcrew - flare - improper, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The helicopter was damaged during an attempted simulated autorotation with power recovery. The flight instructor and the student pilot were on an instructional flight to practice straight and level, normal approaches and simulated forced landings. The instructor reported that the student completed two successful approaches and one successful autorotation with power recovery. The instructor stated that on the last autorotation the student maintained speed and initiated the flare and held it until the instructor felt the aircraft was too low to hold. The instructor reported taking the controls and pushing the cyclic forward at the same time as the student pilot began to push forward. The instructor reported feeling the impact of the tail rotor and boom, then the aircraft yawed to the right. The instructor stated that the throttle was already closed to idle so the instructor "held the cyclic for a level attitude and prepared to cushion the landing with the collective. [The helicopter] spun around approximately another 390 degrees to the right before the helicopter impacted the runway on the skids collapsing the left side of the landing gear." ## Factual narrative The helicopter was damaged during an attempted simulated autorotation with power recovery. The flight instructor and the student pilot were on an instructional flight to practice straight and level, normal approaches and simulated forced landings. The instructor reported that the student completed two successful approaches and one successful autorotation with power recovery. The instructor stated that on the last autorotation the student maintained speed and initiated the flare and held it until the instructor felt the aircraft was too low to hold. The instructor reported taking the controls and pushing the cyclic forward at the same time as the student pilot began to push forward. The instructor reported feeling the impact of the tail rotor and boom, then the aircraft yawed to the right. The instructor stated that the throttle was already closed to idle so the instructor "held the cyclic for a level attitude and prepared to cushion the landing with the collective. [The helicopter] spun around approximately another 390 degrees to the right before the helicopter impacted the runway on the skids collapsing the left side of the landing gear." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N269HB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N269HB-2016-08-11), registration cancelled 2016-08-11, S/N 0166, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 300 CBI - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1) (registry code 8059504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0166 - Airframe hours: 2177.7 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-GIA 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hummingbird Aviation - Registered owner: WestStar Ventures, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2007 - Departed: KFCM, Minneapolis, MN - Destination: KLVN, Minneapolis, MN - Airport: KLVN, Air Lake Airport, runway 30, 4,098 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 703 total, 666 in this make and model, 631 as pilot in command, 239 in the last 90 days, 95 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 103 total, 80 in this make and model, 48 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 15 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KFCM, 15 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 20070913021859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070913021859A), Sep 13, 2007: Hughes 269C1, Minneapolis, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) During an autorotation maneuver the tail boom struck the runway surface. 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.