# NTSB ERA12CA375: Schweizer 269C-1, N1803R, Titusville, FL, May 31, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2012, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Titusville, FL
- Coordinates: 28.441667, -80.859169 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4417&lon=-80.8592&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 November 26, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83811
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA375
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83811/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83811
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA375

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action during a simulated engine-out procedure, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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, 1,422 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

According to the flight instructor, during the helicopter instructional flight, he simulated an engine failure. During the descent, the engine rpm began to decrease. As the helicopter approached the intended landing area, the student pilot raised the collective, which further decreased the rotor rpm. The flight instructor lowered the collective and increased the throttle; the helicopter touched down hard, bounced, landed and rolled onto its left side, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom. A postaccident examination revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, neither pilot reported any mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

## Factual narrative

According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), during the helicopter instructional flight, a simulated engine failure maneuver was being performed. During the descent, the engine rpm began to decrease. The anticipated approach path to the landing area required the helicopter to overfly trees. As the helicopter approached the intended landing area, the student pilot raised the collective, which further decreased the rotor rpm. The CFI lowered the collective and increased the throttle; the helicopter landed hard, bounced, landed a second time, and rolled onto its left side, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom. A postaccident investigation revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, neither pilot reported any mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1803R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1803R-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N 0298 (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: 0298
- Airframe hours: 2907
- 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, May 2, 2012
- Departed: TIX, Titusville, FL
- Destination: TIX, Titusville, FL
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: TIX, Space Coast Regional Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 7,616 total, 2,874 in this make and model, 6,287 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; seat: right; flight hours: 61 total, 61 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: TIX, 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 20120531011259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120531011259A), May 31, 2012: Schweizer 269C-1, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. On may 31, 2012, aircraft N1803R, operated by bristow academy, a FAR 141 pilot school, crashed while the foreign student pilot was simulating an engine…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83811. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- CFI Statement to Bristow Academy (item 2, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369509&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20Statement%20to%20Bristow%20Academy-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Titusville, Florida Weather (item 3, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369510&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Titusville,%20Florida%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Helicopter At Rest (Courtesy of the Operator) (item 4, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Helicopter%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20Operator)-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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