# NTSB FTW90FA111: Schweizer 269C, N431MS, Tallulah, LA, May 30, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 30, 1990, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Tallulah, LA
- Location: 32.4067° N, 91.1917° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tallulah, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4067&lon=-91.1917&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23022
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23022/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA111

## Probable cause

LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO A MULTIPLE BIRD STRIKE AND INCORRECT CONTROL INPUTS BY THE PILOT IN THE FLARE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE BIRD STRIKE INDUCED VIBRATIONS AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, cruise - normal
  - object - bird(s) (cause)
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - foreign object damage
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - vibration (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - flare - abrupt, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - sheared (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 800 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY FLEW THE AIRCRAFT INTO A FLOCK OF BIRDS. FOLLOWING THE BIRD STRIKE THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED SEVERE VERTICAL VIBRATIONS AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. DURING THE DESCENT AND DURING THE FLARE PRIOR TO LANDING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE FLEXED DOWN AND STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT BECOMING UNCONTROLLABLE. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N431MS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N431MS-1991-11-05), registration cancelled 1991-11-05, S/N S1435 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C
- Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: S1435
- Airframe hours: 230
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-DIA 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dooley Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 24, 1990, 40 hours before
- Departed: MEI, MERIDIAN, MS
- Destination: SHV, SHREVEPORT, LA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 117 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLU, 53 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 19900530018999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900530018999A), May 30, 1990: Hughes 269C, Tallulah, LA, Substantial damage. Flew into large flock of birds damaging rotors. Hit nose down on autorotation forced landing.

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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