# NTSB ERA11CA201: Schweizer 269C-1, N153HT, Mount Pocono, PA, March 20, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 20, 2011, 14:39 local (18:39 UTC)
- Place: Mount Pocono, PA
- Coordinates: 41.135555, -75.373886 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1356&lon=-75.3739&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA201
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78614/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78614
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA201

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's selection of an unsuitable landing site to practice autorotations, which resulted in an inadvertent dynamic rollover during touchdown.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that during a local training flight, the helicopter was at a hover and he reduced power to simulate an engine failure. He said that upon ground contact, the aft portion of helicopter's left skid sank into the mud, the helicopter began to roll to the left, and he attempted corrective action for a dynamic rollover. However, the helicopter rolled over on to its left side resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage. The CFI and student pilot both stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) stated that during a local training flight, the helicopter was at a hover and he "rolled off power" to simulate an engine failure. According to the CFI, upon ground contact, the aft portion of helicopter's left skid "sank into the mud," the helicopter began to roll to the left, and he attempted corrective action as taught for a dynamic rollover. However, the helicopter rolled over on to its left side resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage. The CFI and student pilot both stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N153HT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N153HT), registered now, S/N 0240, built 2006 (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: 0240
- Airframe hours: 1766
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-G1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Hi-Tech Helicopters Inc
- Registered owner: Hi-Tech Helicopters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 17, 2011, 5 hours before
- Departed: MPO, Mount Pocono, PA
- Destination: MPO, Mount Pocono, PA
- Airport: MPO, Pocono Mountains Municipal Air

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 205 total, 190 in this make and model
- Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observed at: MPO, 8 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 20110320003319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110320003319A), Mar 20, 2011: Schweizer 269C-1, Long Pond, PA, Substantial damage. While hover/autorotation to landing at a practice field the aft end of left skid sunk into grass and dirt. Dynamic rollover commenced. PIC initiated corrective…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78614. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Flight Instructor (item 1, .PDF, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Flight%20Instructor-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Student Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345443&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum For Record - FAA notes (item 3, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20FAA%20notes-Master.PDF
- Mount Pocono Airport Weather (item 4, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mount%20Pocono%20Airport%20Weather-Master.PDF
- 2 Embedded Photographs (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345442&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=2%20Embedded%20Photographs%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.

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