# NTSB DFW08TA137: Schweizer 269D, N584PM, San Antonio, TX, May 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: May 9, 2008, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.336944, -98.471107 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3369&lon=-98.4711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08TA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67998/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08TA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for the excessive rate of descent on final approach. A contributing factor was the reported down draft. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=8059501), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=8059501), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8059501), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis While demonstrating a 180 degree autorotation, the helicopter encountered a downdraft resulting in an unexpected loss of altitude. The flight instructor elected not to roll power and decided to continue the autorotation to the ground. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent rate. The helicopter touched down level, bounced, and came to rest in the upright position. The flight instructor and private pilot were able to exit the helicopter normally. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 2008 at approximately 1220 central daylight time a single engine Schweizer 269D helicopter, N584PM, was substantially damaged during a hard landing following a practice autorotation. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The helicopter was owned and operated by the San Antonio Police Department. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local pattern flight originated at Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF), San Antonio, Texas. In a statement provided by the flight instructor, while demonstrating a 180 degree right autorotation the helicopter entered a "down draft" resulting in a loss of altitude. Due to low altitude the pilot elected not to roll power on and decided to continue the autorotation to a touchdown. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent rate and the helicopter touched down level, bounced 2 to 3 feet and came to rest in the upright position. Damage was discovered to the helicopter skids and supporting structure. At 1253 an automated weather observation station at SSF reported winds from 160 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 17 knots, visibility 7 miles, clear skies, temperature 90 degrees, dew point 68 degrees, and a barometric pressure of 29.78 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N584PM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N584PM-2015-09-14), registration cancelled 2015-09-14, S/N 0062A (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 269D - Registry model: [Schweizer 269D](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269d) (registry code 8059501) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20W](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20w) (registry code 54189, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0062A - Airframe hours: 713 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20W 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: San Antonio Police Department - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2008 - Departed: SSF, San Antonio, TX - Destination: SSF, San Antonio, TX - Airport: SSF, Stinson Muni, runway 09, 4,835 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 173 total, 115 in this make and model, 126 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 2,744 total, 2,158 in this make and model, 64 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KSSF ## 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 20080509833499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080509833499A), May 9, 2008: Scwzer 269D, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he and another pilot were practicing auto-rotations. On the last auto-rotation he was too low and the helicopter hit the ground hard.… 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.