# NTSB ERA11CA012: Schweizer 269C-1, N2074B, Titusville, FL, October 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 6, 2010, 13:18 local (17:18 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.514722, -80.799163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5147&lon=-80.7992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77520/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77520 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA012 ## Probable cause An inadvertent in-flight collision with a bird. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was maneuvering the helicopter about 1,000 feet above ground level when he noticed a large bird located to the right of his flight path. As the bird started to circle toward the helicopter, the pilot attempted to avoid it by making a sharp left turn. When the helicopter was in a steep left bank, the pilot felt a "thump" in the airframe and cyclic control. The cyclic became sluggish and less responsive than normal. The pilot initiated a controlled descent and landed the helicopter in the median of a highway. An examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the main rotor blades required replacement. The pilot reported that prior to the bird impacting the helicopter, there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was flying at 1,000 feet when he noticed a large bird located to the right of his flight path. As the bird started to circle towards the helicopter, the pilot tried to avoid it by making a sharp left turn. When the helicopter was in a steep left bank, the pilot felt a "thump in the aircraft and cyclic control," and the cyclic became "sluggish and spongy." The pilot completed a controlled descent and landed the helicopter in the median of a highway. An examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the main rotor blades required replacement. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the in-flight collision. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2074B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2074B-2018-06-08), registration cancelled 2018-06-08, S/N 0338, built 2008 (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-G1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-g1a) (registry code 41898, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0338 - Airframe hours: 1916 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-G1A 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: Continuous airworthiness, September 8, 2010 - Departed: NONE, Titusville, FL - Destination: NONE, Titusville, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 98 total, 98 in this make and model, 34 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 18 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: TIX, 6 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). - [Incident 20101006047929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101006047929I), Oct 6, 2010: Schweizer 269C-1, Cocoa, FL, Minor damage. At approxamately 1000 ft AGL aircraft struck large bird. Aircraft made emergency landing ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77520. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Federal Aviation Administration Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338277&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Weather Reports: KTIX METARs (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%3A%20KTIX%20METARs-Master.PDF - Photo #1: Main Rotor Blade Damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 980 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%231%3A%20Main%20Rotor%20Blade%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.