# NTSB DEN04CA092: Schweizer 269C, N2062N, Englewood, CO, June 13, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2004, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.569999, -104.849998
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5700&lon=-104.8500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59468
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59468/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA092

## Probable cause

the settling with power situation encountered by the pilot. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - settling with power - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he had been cleared for operations on runway 17R. The pilot reported that after crossing the threshold at 40 knots and 40 feet agl, he "felt like [he] was in a high rate of descent and the [helicopter] began to sink." The pilot suspected he was in a "settling with power" situation and decreased the collective and pushed the cyclic forward. The helicopter continued to sink, impacting the runway hard and sliding for approximately 6 feet, substantially damaging the helicopter. Density altitude was calculated at 8,622 feet. The out of ground effect hover ceiling was calculated at approximately 5,600 feet and the in ground effect hover ceiling was calculated between 6,200 and 7,600 feet.

## Factual narrative

On June 13, 2004, at approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N2062N was substantially damaged during a hard landing to runway 17R at Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Jefferson County Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado, at approximately 1400.

According to the pilot's accident report, he had been cleared for take-off and landings on runway 17R. The pilot reported that after crossing the threshold at 40 knots and 40 feet agl, he "felt like [he] was in a high rate of descent and the [helicopter] began to sink." The pilot suspected he was "settling with power" and decreased the collective and pushed the cyclic forward. The helicopter continued to sink, impacting the runway hard and sliding for approximately 6 feet. After briefly assessing the damage, the pilot flew the helicopter back to BJC and landed uneventfully. Later examination revealed that the front and rear crossbar and the right tail boom support strut were bent.

Density altitude was calculated at 8,622 feet. The out of ground effect hover ceiling was calculated at approximately 5,600 feet and the in ground effect hover ceiling was calculated between 6,200 and 7,600 feet. Airport elevation is 5,883 feet msl.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2062N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2062N), registered now, S/N S1830, built 2002 (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: S1830
- Airframe hours: 1991
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 12, 2004, 62 hours before
- Departed: BJC, DENVER, CO
- Destination: BJC, DENVER, CO
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 17R, 10,002 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 23, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 139 total, 92 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 11 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: APA, 1 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 20040613011509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040613011509A), Jun 13, 2004: Hughes 269C, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) The flight of N2062N originated at the jefferson county airport (bjc) with Mr. Larry j. felton as pilot in command. The aircraft made normal approach to…

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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