# NTSB LAX00LA216: Schweizer 269C-1, N2029H, Brentwood, CA, June 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2000, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Brentwood, CA - Location: 37.9356° N, 121.7190° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brentwood, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9356&lon=-121.7190&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49357/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA216 ## Probable cause The student's improper execution of a quick-stop maneuver in that he misjudged his altitude and failed to terminate at a stationary hover prior to descending to a low hover. This resulted in an excessive engine power requirement and the student improperly coordinated the use of the collective and anti-torque controls. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - maneuver - improper, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - rotorcraft flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - descent - not corrected, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The solo student pilot was practicing quick stop maneuvers. He reported that, during one maneuver, the helicopter was nearly stopped in a high hover at 30 feet agl, and he was descending to low hover when the helicopter started vibrating and yawed to the left. The controls became ineffective and the helicopter started spinning around until it impacted the ground and then rolled on its side. When examined after the accident, the main rotor blades exhibited modest leading edge damage, modest chordwise striations, and approximately 20 degrees of uniform root-to-tip upward bending deformation. One tail rotor blade was undamaged and the other was bent about 10 degrees tip-inboard at the midspan. The engine was started and ran smoothly. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2000, at 1600 hours Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer 269C-1, N2029H, was substantially damaged when the pilot lost control of the helicopter during a practice quick-stop maneuver and impacted the ground near Brentwood, California. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The instructional flight was operated by Helicopter Adventures, Inc., of Concord, California, under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Concord about 1430. The pilot reported that, during one quick-stop maneuver, the helicopter was nearly stopped in a high hover and he was descending to low hover when the helicopter started vibrating and yawed to the left. The controls became ineffective and the helicopter started spinning around until it impacted the ground and then rolled on its side. The pilot's flight instructor said the student told him he performed the quick stop at 30 feet agl. The helicopter was examined in the impound facility on June 19, 2000. The flight control linkage was intact except for one fractured blade pitch control link rod end fitting and the anti-torque push-pull tube at the fuselage/tail boom juncture. The fracture surfaces of both components exhibited a uniform, shiny, metallic appearance. The main rotor blades exhibited modest leading edge damage, modest chordwise striations, and approximately 20 degrees of uniform root-to-tip upward bending deformation. One tail rotor blade was undamaged and the other was bent about 10 degrees tip-inboard at the midspan. The main and tail rotor transmissions turned freely and smoothly when rotated by hand and the magnetic plugs were free of debris. The engine was started (with the transmission disconnected) and ran smoothly at 2,600 rpm for about 5 minutes. The magneto check was normal and engine instrument indications were within normal limits. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2029H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2029H-2013-10-25), registration cancelled 2013-10-25, S/N 0100, built 1999 (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: 0100 - Airframe hours: 395 - Engines: Lycoming HO-360-D1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Helicopter Adventures Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 26, 2000, 96 hours before - Departed: CCR, CONCORD, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 87 total, 21 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 162 °F, dew point 126 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CCR, 17 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 20000605005509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000605005509A), Jun 5, 2000: Hughes 269C1, Brentwood, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) No narrative (.4) the solo student pilot was practicing quick stop maneuvers. He reported that, during one maneuver, the helicopter was nearly stopped in… 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.