# NTSB LAX03LA010: Schweizer 269C, N61416, Hayward, CA, October 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 2002, 18:12 local (Oct 18, 2002, 01:12 UTC) - Place: Hayward, CA - Coordinates: 37.659442, -122.122497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6594&lon=-122.1225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55904 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55904/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA010 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - initiated, dual student - collective - improper use of, dual student - rotor rpm - low, dual student - airspeed - excessive, dual student - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - emergency procedure - simulated - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,skid assembly - collapsed ## Analysis The helicopter landed hard and rolled over while practicing 180-degree autorotations. The student entered the autorotation and applied excessive collective during the turn. The rpm decreased and the student lowered the nose of the helicopter in order to increase airspeed; consequently, the helicopter was in a low rpm and high airspeed condition as it approached the landing area. The student rolled on the throttle but the descent continued. The CFI then took control of the helicopter but ground impact occurred before he could arrest the descent. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 2002, at 1812 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N61416, landed hard and rolled over while practicing autorotations at Hayward Executive Airport, Hayward, California. The helicopter was operated by Sierra Academy of Aeronautics under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 for the local area instructional flight. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Oakland at 1730. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the helicopter started an autorotation during a turn beginning the maneuver approximately 500 feet above ground level (agl). The inspector further reported that as the helicopter hit the ground the tail was broken off. In a written statement by the CFI he stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice 180 degree autorotations. The student's primary instructor had requested the CFI to fly with the student for additional practice. Upon arrival at Hayward various maneuvers were practiced to get "warmed up." During the intial portion of the 180-degree autorotations the CFI demonstrated the maneuvers and slowly gave the student "more and more" control. The CFI further stated on the eventful autorotation the student initated the maneuver himself; however, as he initiated the turn he pulled "too much up on the collective." The CFI noticed the rpm go down but not at an alarming rate as "we were still well within the green." Through the turn the student put the nose of the aircraft down in order to maintain proper airspeed placing the helicopter in too much of a nose down attitude. The descent continued with low rpm and high airspeed out of trim. The CFI stated he then took control of the helicopter, initiated a flare, and lowered the collective slightly down in order to arrest the rate of descent; however, the helicopter impacted the ground tail low with "some downward force and momentous forward ground speed." The helicopter came to rest on its left side. In a written statement submitted by the student pilot he stated this flight was his second with the CFI, and the purpose of the flight was to improve the student's autorotations. The autorotation began with a normal short approach pattern toward the helipad and entry from 500 feet and 70 knots. The entry and turn were normal; however, upon establishing the helicopter on final approach to the helipad, a very high sink rate had developed. The student then attempted to roll on the throttle but the helicopter impacted the ground skids level, rolled up on its nose, and then rolled onto its left side. The student was trapped under the wreckage and the CFI lifted the wreckage to release him. The student stated the CFI was "with him" on the controls at all times. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61416](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61416-2003-07-15), registration cancelled 2003-07-15, S/N 0006, built 1995 (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 HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0006 - Engines: Lycoming HO-360-C-1 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sierra Academy of Aeronautics - Registered owner: M I AIR Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 2002 - Departed: OAK, Oakland, CA - Destination: HWD, Hayward, CA - Airport: HWD, Hayward Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 9, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 2,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,960 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 11, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 173 total, 78 in this make and model, 103 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: HWD ## 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 20021017030619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021017030619A), Oct 17, 2002: Hughes 269C1, Hayward, CA, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft departed (oak) to go to (hwd) to perform 180 degree autorotations at the request of primary instructor. Student had problems managing 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.