- Date
- May 13, 2010, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Ormond Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Emergency descent
- Aircraft
- N113TASchweizer 269C
- Defining event
- Autorotation: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 12, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 75998
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 student pilot’s improper use of collective and throttle during the landing flare.
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
In preparation for an upcoming private pilot check ride, the student helicopter pilot was performing a simulated forced landing with his certificated flight instructor (CFI). During the flare, the student abruptly pulled up on the collective and rolled the throttle closed. The engine sputtered and subsequently experienced a total loss of power. The CFI attempted to recover power; however, insufficient altitude remained and the helicopter touched down on the right skid and bounced, severing the tail boom. The CFI stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter.
Factual narrative
In preparation for an upcoming private pilot check ride, the student pilot was performing a simulated forced landing with his flight instructor. During the flare, the student abruptly pulled up on the collective and rolled the throttle the wrong way. The engine sputtered, then shut off. The instructor attempted to recover the engine, however insufficient altitude was available. The helicopter landed on the right skid and bounced, breaking off the tail boom. The instructor stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the helicopter during the accident sequence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N113TA
- Reported as
- Schweizer 269C (1)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0348
- Airframe hours
- 916
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-G1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Tomlinson Aviation Inc
- Registered owner
- Tomlinson Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 10, 2010 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- OMN · Ormond Beach, FL
- Destination
- OMN · Ormond Beach, FL
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 22, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,060 total · 385 in this make and model · 616 as pilot in command
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 19
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 58 total · 12 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.23 inHg
- Observed at
- OMN
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 808 KB in all.