# NTSB CHI93LA013: Schweizer H-300, N3625Z, Grand Forks, ND, October 22, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 21, 1992, 19:05 local (Oct 22, 1992, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Grand Forks, ND
- Coordinates: 47.920856, -97.069694 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9209&lon=-97.0697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15609
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15609/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA013

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DURING A NIGHT LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - light condition - bright night (contributing factor)
  - touchdown - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Roll over, landing
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS ON A LOCAL FLIGHT IN DUSK/BRIGHT NIGHT CONDITIONS. HE REPORTED HE HAD THE LANDING LIGHT, POSITION AND ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS ON, AND 'COULD SEE PRETTY GOOD IN A CONFINED AREA THAT I HAD BEEN IN MANY TIMES.' AFTER SOME MANEUVERING, THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND.  HE STATED: 'I DIDN'T THINK I HAD ANY LATERAL MOVEMENT.  I PERCEIVED MY (ALTITUDE) TO BE APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET, I MUST HAVE BEEN HIGHER.  I REMEMBER MY LEFT SKID HITTING THE GROUND THEN SORT OF A TILT TO THE RIGHT.  MY RIGHT SKID CAUGHT IN SOME DIRT TO THE RIGHT AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW THE HELICOPTER TIPPED OVER.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3625Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3625Z-2019-11-29), registration cancelled 2019-11-29, S/N S1194 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER H-300
- Registry model: [Schweizer HUGHES 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-hughes-269c) (registry code 8059500) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1194
- Airframe hours: 2794
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
- Registered owner: University Of North Dakota
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 11, 1992, 22 hours before
- Departed: GFK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 114 total, 59 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GFK, 5 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 19921021043129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921021043129A), Oct 21, 1992: Hughes 269C, Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. Practice autorotations to hover. Elected to land. Skids touched alternately. Helicopter then rolled over.

## Other investigations on N3625Z (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 CEN18LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA334), Aug 16, 2018: Schweizer 269C (N3625Z), Kindred, ND, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adequately inspect the lower coupling driveshaft during his preflight inspection and his non-compliance with an applicable airworthiness directive, which resulted in the…

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.

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