# NTSB DFW06LA108: Schweizer 269C, N209LH, Denton, TX, April 18, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 18, 2006, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.200553, -97.197776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2006&lon=-97.1978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63519/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA108 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain rotor RPM, resulting in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - safety advisory - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Roll over, landing ## Analysis During a local instructional flight, the flight instructor was demonstrating a simulated forced landing to an open field. The main rotor RPM was allowed to decrease during autorotation, and a high sink rate developed. The 4,000-hour helicopter flight instructor was unable to regain rotor RPM and the helicopter landed hard on its skids before rolling over on its side. An examination of the helicopter's flight controls and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies. ## Factual narrative On April 18, 2006, approximately 1030 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C single-engine helicopter, N209LH, was substantially damaged during a hard landing following a simulated loss of engine power about three miles west of the Denton Municipal Airport (DTO), near Denton, Texas. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Longhorn Helicopters, Inc., of Trophy Club, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from DTO about 1000. The 4,000-hour helicopter flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating a simulated forced landing to an open field. The flight instructor initiated an autorotation and, after descending in autorotation to about 200 feet above ground level (agl), he applied engine power to initiate an engine recovery; however, the rotor RPM had decayed “below limits.” Subsequently the helicopter developed a high sink rate. Despite the flight instructor's attempt to regain rotor RPM, the helicopter landed hard on its skid landing gear before rolling over on its side. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the helicopter's main rotor, tail boom, and fuselage sustained structural damage. The inspector further reported that an examination of the helicopter's flight controls and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N209LH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N209LH-2018-01-02), registration cancelled 2018-01-02, S/N S1881 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 269C - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: S1881 - Airframe hours: 625 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Longhorn Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2006 - Departed: DTO, DENTON, TX - Airport: DTO, Denton Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 47; injuries: serious; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 20,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.68 inHg - Observed at: DTO, 3 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 20060418006289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060418006289A), Apr 18, 2006: Hughes 269C, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 18, 2006, at approximately 1111 LCL, a Schweizer 269-C helicopter, N209LH, sustained substantial damage after impacting the ground approximately… 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.