# NTSB ERA14CA348: Schweizer 269C, N1830D, Titusville, FL, July 21, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 21, 2014, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.551111, -80.900833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5511&lon=-80.9008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO Orlando - NTSB case key (mKey): 89716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89716/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89716 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA348 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to initiate the decelerative flare during autorotation and the CFI's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, the instructional flight was in preparation for his student's evaluation flight scheduled the following day. The maneuvers practiced were settling with power, straight-in autorotations, 180-degree autorotations, hovering autorotations, and quick stops. The student pilot was manipulating the controls and initiated an autorotation about 1,300 feet above ground level (agl). About 100 feet agl, the instructor directed the student to initiate a recovery flare. About 50 feet agl, the instructor took the controls from the student and initiated the flare. The helicopter contacted the ground with the tail skid, then the left skid, and subsequently rolled over on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, cabin, and drivetrain. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, the instructional flight was in preparation for his student's evaluation flight scheduled the following day. The maneuvers practiced were settling with power, straight-in autorotations, 180-degree autorotations, hovering autorotations, and quick stops. The student pilot was manipulating the controls and initiated an autorotation about 1,300 feet above ground level (agl). About 100 feet agl, the instructor directed the student to initiate a recovery flare. About 50 feet agl, the instructor took the controls from the student and initiated the flare. The helicopter contacted the ground with the tail skid, then the left skid, and subsequently rolled over on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, cabin, and drivetrain. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1830D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1830D-2019-11-01), registration cancelled 2019-11-01, S/N 0262, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C - 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: 0262 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 4704 - 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, July 15, 2014 - Departed: TIX, TITUSVILLE, FL - Destination: TIX, TITUSVILLE, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 17, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 639 total - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 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). - [Accident 20140721014859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140721014859A), Jul 21, 2014: Schweizer 269C-1, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. During an instructional flight the crew went through a settling with power manuver. Immediately upon recovery the instructor simulated an engine failure. The… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89716. 1.4 MB in all. - NTSB Pilot 6120 Form (item 1, .PDF, 916 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Pilot%206120%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record – Certified Flight Instructor (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Certified%20Flight%20Instructor%20-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – View of Main Rotor Damage (Courtesy of Bristow Academy) (item 3, .PDF, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Main%20Rotor%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20Bristow%20Academy)%20-Master.PDF - Photo 2- View of Nose and Main Rotor Blades (Courtesy of Bristow Academy) (item 4, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-%20View%20of%20Nose%20and%20Main%20Rotor%20Blades%20(Courtesy%20of%20Bristow%20Academy)%20-Master.PDF - Photo 3- View of Tail Boom (Courtesy of Bristow Academy) (item 5, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415738&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-%20View%20of%20Tail%20Boom%20(Courtesy%20of%20Bristow%20Academy)%20-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.