# NTSB FTW04LA209: Schweizer 269C-1, N204LH, Denton, TX, August 9, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2004, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.200553, -97.197776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2006&lon=-97.1978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59857 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59857/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA209 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight by his delay in taking remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, hover - in ground effect - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The 2,800-hour flight instructor reported that while practicing hovering autorotations, the 40-hour student pilot applied full forward cyclic and full collective while reducing throttle. As the flight instructor applied full aft cyclic and lowered the collective, the helicopter pitched forward and the skids contacted the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled to the left and came to rest on its left side. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 2004, at 1640 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C-1 single-engine helicopter, N204LH, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while hovering at the Denton Municipal Airport (DTO) near Denton, Texas. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The helicopter was registered and operated by Longhorn Helicopters, Inc., of Trophy Club, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from DTO about 1540. The 2,800-hour flight instructor reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that while practicing hovering autorotations, the student pilot applied full forward cyclic and full collective while reducing throttle. As the flight instructor applied full aft cyclic and lowered the collective, the helicopter pitched forward and the main rotor blades impacted the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled to the left and came to rest on its left side. The rated pilot receiving instruction stated that he "did not knowingly apply forward cyclic or full collective." The operator reported that all main rotor blades were destroyed and the skid landing gear, tailboom and the left side of the fuselage were also damaged. The 2004-model helicopter was reported to have accumulated a total of 224 hours since new. The flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instructions performed two hovering autorotations with no drift. On the third hovering autorotation, accomplished at a skid height of 12 to 18 inches off the ground, the student applied full forward cyclic with full collective while reducing throttle. The flight instructor added that the maneuver was initiated with the helicopter into the wind, while hovering over level grassy area. The wind at the time of the accident was from 360 degrees at 2 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N204LH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N204LH-2005-10-05), registration cancelled 2005-10-05, S/N 0172, built 2004 (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 HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0172 - Airframe hours: 224 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-G1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Longhorn Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 24, 2004, 27 hours before - Departed: DTO, Denton, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: DTO, Denton Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 14, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 2,800 total, 250 in this make and model, 1,950 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review July 23, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 300 total, 40 in this make and model, 199 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 46 °F ## 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 20040809016469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040809016469A), Aug 9, 2004: Hughes 269C1, Denton, TX, Destroyed. (-23) Inspector worthy conducted the on-scene investigation and completed most of the required items. I was called on to interview the instructor who was the… 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.