# NTSB ERA10CA432: Schweizer 269C-1, N1542D, Titusville, FL, August 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2010, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.459167, -80.863052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4592&lon=-80.8631&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77006 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA432 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77006/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77006 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA432 ## Probable cause The instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of rotor rpm and a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 895 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 1,428 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during the helicopter instructional flight, hovering, straight-ahead, and 180-degree-turn autorotations were performed. The flight instructor's remedial actions typically included adjustment of pitch attitude to maintain the target airspeed, or collective adjustment to keep the rotor rpm in the normal operating range. During an autorotation with turn initiated by the student, the flight instructor took control of the helicopter but allowed the rotor rpm to decay below the lower limit. He adjusted collective and throttle, and initiated a decelerative flare to build rotor rpm, but the rotor rpm continued its decay. The flight instructor was unable to arrest the helicopter's descent, and the helicopter impacted the ground on the back of the skids, pitched forward and rolled over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and both the main and tail rotor systems. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were noted with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that during the helicopter instructional flight, hovering, straight-ahead, and 180-degree-turn autorotations were performed. The flight instructor's remedial actions typically included adjustment of pitch attitude to maintain the target airspeed, or collective adjustment to keep the rotor rpm in the normal operating range. During an autorotation with turn initiated by the student, the flight instructor took control of the helicopter but allowed the rotor rpm to decay below the lower limit. He adjusted collective and throttle, and initiated a decelerative flare to build rotor rpm, but the rotor rpm continued its decay. The flight instructor was unable to arrest the helicopter's descent, and the helicopter impacted the ground on the back of the skids, pitched forward and rolled over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and both the main and tail rotor systems. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were noted with the helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1542D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1542D-2011-04-28), registration cancelled 2011-04-28, S/N 0198, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C-1 - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1) (registry code 8059504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0198 - Airframe hours: 3854 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bristow Academy Inc - Registered owner: Bristow Academy Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 29, 2010 - Departed: KTIX, Titusville, FL - Destination: KTIX, Titusville, FL - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KTIX, Space Coast Regional Airport, runway 18, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 502 total, 458 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 53 total, 53 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KTIX, 5 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 20100818045149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100818045149A), Aug 18, 2010: Schweizer 269C-1, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. Student was practicing 180 degree autorotations from 600 feet alt and began to rapidly build rotor RPM. CFI was distracted by tach and did not realize the loss… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77006. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Instructor Statement (item 2, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335634&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instructor%20Statement-Master.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.