# NTSB DEN05CA079: Schweizer 269C, N958CP, Pueblo, CO, May 19, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 19, 2005, 09:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Pueblo, CO - Coordinates: 38.289165, -104.496391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2892&lon=-104.4964&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 61515 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61515/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05CA079 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, they were conducting steep approaches to runway 26L. The first three approaches and landings were uneventful. During the fourth approach, approximately 10 to 15 feet agl, the student noted that the rpm's had dropped into the yellow arc around 2800 rpm. The student stated that he "lowered the collective and rolled on the throttle." The helicopter "dropped dramatically." The student attempted to cushion the landing by adding collective. The helicopter impacted the ground and "spun left" approximately 180 degrees before coming to a rest. An examination of helicopter showed substantial damage to the tail boom, skids, tail rotor drive shaft, and the frame. An examination of the helicopter's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2005, approximately 0920 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N958CP, was substantially damaged when it made a hard landing during a short approach at the Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB), Pueblo, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight instructor and student pilot on board reported no injures.The local flight departed PUB approximately 0830. According to the accident report submitted by the flight instructor, they were conducting steep approaches to runway 26L. The first three approaches and landings were uneventful. During the fourth approach, approximately 10 to 15 feet agl, the student noted that the rpm's had dropped into the yellow arc around 2800 rpm. The student stated that he "lowered the collective and rolled on the throttle." The helicopter "dropped dramatically." The student attempted to cushion the landing by adding collective. The helicopter impacted the ground and "spun left" approximately 180 degrees before coming to a rest. During the impact the skids split, the tail boom was bent backwards, the tail rotor drive shaft separated, and the frame of the helicopter was bent. An examination of the helicopter's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N958CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N958CP), registered now, S/N S1710, built 1996 (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: 51710 - Airframe hours: 5129 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Silver State Helicopters - Registered owner: Lj Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2005, 37 hours before - Departed: PUB, Pueblo, CO - Destination: PUB, Pueblo, CO - Airport: PUB, Pueblo Memorial, runway 26L, 4,073 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 313 total, 114 in this make and model, 254 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 5 total, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: PUB, 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 20050519009709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050519009709A), May 19, 2005: Hughes 269C, Pueblo, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Training flt in traffic pattern for rw 26L @kpub. 1st three patterns completed successfully w/normal approach on first, and steep approach on next two.… ## Other investigations on N958CP (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 LAX08CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA069), Feb 29, 2008: Schweizer 269C (N958CP), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The certificated flight instructor's delayed remedial action, and inadequate supervision while landing on a pinnacle. Factors contributing to the accident were the lack of suitable terrain for a… 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.