# NTSB CHI94LA138: Schweizer 269C, N3623Y, Fargo, ND, April 21, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 1994, 15:02 local (20:02 UTC) - Place: Fargo, ND - Location: 46.9206° N, 96.8157° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HECTOR INTL (FAR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9206&lon=-96.8157&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9510 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9510/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA138 ## Probable cause the pilot in command's improper autorotation technique. A factor associated with the accident is the FAA Inspector'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 - performed, pilot in command - autorotation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - delayed, faa inspector (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS DEMONSTRATING AUTOROTATIONS TO TOUCHDOWN TO AN FAA INSPECTOR AS PART OF A CHECK RIDE FOR A HELICOPTER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE. DURING THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL, THE PILOT SAID HE INADVERTENTLY RAISED THE COLLECTIVE PREMATURELY AND ALLOWED THE MAIN ROTOR SPEED TO DECAY. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FAA INSPECTOR ABOARD KNEW THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS GOING TO LAND SHORT OF THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN SITE. HE SAID THAT HE NORMALLY RESTS HIS HAND ON THE COLLECTIVE DURING PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS, BUT DID NOT DO SO IN THIS INSTANCE. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 1994, about 1502 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter sustained substantial damage when it landed hard during a practice autorotation at the Fargo Airport, Fargo, North Dakota. The commercial certificated helicopter pilot was not injured; an FAA inspector aboard received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. The pilot reported he was demonstrating practice autorotations to touchdown to the FAA inspector as part of a check ride for a helicopter flight instructor certificate. The pilot said he was turning base to final approach for runway 13, when he inadvertently raised the collective and allowed the rotor speed to decay. He said he continued the approach to touchdown, but landed much harder than he anticipated. The FAA Inspector aboard said in his statement to the NTSB that the accident pilot had performed "superbly" in all other areas of the flight test, but was having some difficulty with the autorotations. Describing the circumstances preceding the accident, the FAA Inspector wrote: "During the turn from base to final we were about 150 feet which was lower than normal, and was going to result in a touchdown about 200' short of our designated spot. As we rolled out of the turn at about 25', our rate of descent increased rapidly resulting in a very hard impact, touching down initially on the left skid...normally during this maneuver I rest my hand on the collective to assure the applicant does not increase collective, but in this case I did not." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3623Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3623Y-2003-09-15), registration cancelled 2003-09-15, S/N S1601, built 1992 (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: 51601 - Airframe hours: 195 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Quest Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 15, 1993, 30 hours before - Airport: FAR, Hector International, runway 13, 4,199 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 11,872 total, 101 in this make and model, 11,090 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 12 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FAR ## 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 19940421008719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940421008719A), Apr 21, 1994: Hughes 269C, Fargo, ND, Substantial damage. During flight test for helicopter CFI pilot allowed rotor speed decay on landing approach. Observed by FAA ASI. 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.