- Date
- June 13, 2009, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place
- Titusville, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1565BSchweizer 269C-1
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090613047279A
- Case key
- 74053
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during hover, resulting in a rollover.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The rotorcraft pilot stated that the purpose of his flight was to practice flight maneuvers. He said that he was at a 3-foot hover when the right rear skid made contact with the ground. The helicopter suddenly rolled onto its right side and sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox. The pilot did not report any mechanical or flight control anomalies. Winds about the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 5 knots.
Factual narrative
The certificated private rotorcraft pilot stated that the purpose of his flight was to practice flight maneuvers. He said that he was at a 3-foot hover when the right, rear skid made contact with the ground. The helicopter suddenly rolled onto its right side and sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox. The pilot did not report any mechanical or flight control anomalies. Winds about the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 5 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1565B
- Reported as
- Schweizer 269C-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0202
- Airframe hours
- 2,609
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bristow Academy Inc
- Registered owner
- Bristow Academy Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 27, 2009 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- TIX · Titusville, FL
- Destination
- TIX · Titusville, FL
- Airport
- TIX · Space Coast Regional Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 30, 2008
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 311 total · 102 in this make and model · 234 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TIX
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.