# NTSB ERA11LA116: Schweizer 269C-1, N21086, Stuart, FL, January 15, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 15, 2011, 17:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Stuart, FL - Coordinates: 27.181667, -80.221107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1817&lon=-80.2211&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78164 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78164/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78164 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA116 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadvertent activation of the collective control, which allowed the helicopter to become airborne and impact the ramp. ## 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 · 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) - [Flight control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot completed a cross-country instructional flight with his flight instructor. After landing on the ramp, the flight instructor exited the cockpit and set the collective friction. The student pilot then set the cyclic friction. The flight instructor transferred aircraft control to the student pilot and asked him to remain in the cockpit while the engine cooled down. As the flight instructor was leaving the immediate area, he observed the helicopter become airborne and enter a spin. The helicopter then impacted the ramp and came to rest on its right side. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of pre-existing mechanical failure or malfunction. The cyclic and collective friction adjustments operated normally after the accident. Although the pilot stated that he did not initiate the event, the evidence suggests that the helicopter became airborne because of manipulation of the flight controls by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On January 15, 2011, about 1705 eastern standard time, a Schweizer 269C-1, N21086, was substantially damaged after it became airborne and collided with the ramp at Witham Field Airport, Stuart, Florida. The helicopter was operated by Bristow Academy, Inc. The private pilot-certificated student pilot not injured. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the cross country, instructional flight. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated at Tamiami, Florida about 1510. According to the operator, the helicopter was involved in a training exercise with another company helicopter. After landing on the ramp at SUA, the flight instructor assisted the student pilot in setting the collective friction and the student pilot set the cyclic friction. The instructor then transferred control to the student pilot and exited the helicopter. The student pilot remained in the cockpit to allow the engine to cool down for shutdown. As the instructor was being driven off the ramp on a line cart, he observed the helicopter become airborne and enter a spin to the left. The helicopter then collided with the ramp surface and came to rest on its right side. A pilot witness estimated that the helicopter attained a height of about 30 feet prior to the collision. The student pilot reported that, after the flight instructor had left the cockpit, he noticed that the helicopter got "light on [the] skids" and began a slight yaw to the right. He confirmed that the collective was all the way down and pushed slightly on the "already stiff cyclic (because of the friction)" to avoid the other helicopter. The helicopter then climbed, rolled right, and the main rotor blades began hitting the tarmac. The engine was still running after the rollover and he shut the engine down and exited the cockpit. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and inspected the wreckage, assisted by personnel from Bristow Academy. He reported that control continuity was confirmed to the collective, cyclic, and antitorque controls. The cyclic and collective friction adjustments operated normally. The main rotor blades sustained substantial damage from impact with the ramp surface. The fuselage, landing gear skids, and tail boom all exhibited substantial damage. The second helicopter received minor damage from flying debris. The operator reported that there was no mechanical failure or malfunction with the helicopter prior to the accident. Weather, recorded at SUA at 1647, included winds from 090 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 4,000 feet, temperature 20 degrees C, dew point 10 degrees C, an altimeter setting of 30.15 inches Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21086](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21086-2011-04-28), registration cancelled 2011-04-28, S/N 0196, 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: 0196 - Airframe hours: 3874 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-G1A 180 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, December 6, 2010, 59 hours before - Departed: TMB, Tamiami, FL - Destination: SUA, Stuart, FL - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: SUA, Witham Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 141 total, 141 in this make and model, 68 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: SUA ## 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 20110115000669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110115000669A), Jan 15, 2011: Schweizer 269C-1, Stuart, FL, Destroyed. Aircraft landed at sua for a refueling stop. The instructor had been the pilot on the controls for landing and gave controls to student. The instructor exited… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78164. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 749 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Crewmember Written Statements (item 3, .PDF, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Crewmember%20Written%20Statements-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.