# NTSB LAX08CA069: Schweizer 269C, N958CP, Las Vegas, NV, February 29, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 29, 2008, 09:35 local (16:35 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.255279, -115.447502 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2553&lon=-115.4475&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67603 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67603/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA069 ## Probable cause The certificated flight instructor's delayed remedial action, and inadequate supervision while landing on a pinnacle. Factors contributing to the accident were the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the student's failure to maintain rotor rpm. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Other: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student were practicing pinnacle approaches. During the last 50 feet of the approach, the main rotor rpm began to decay as the student was raising the collective. The CFI advised the student to roll on some throttle, and also reached for the throttle. The student continued to increase the collective, and the main rotor rpm decayed further. The instructor took full control of the helicopter and completed a steep slope landing. After the helicopter was on the ground, the instructor found that half of the collective was pulled in as well as full right cyclic in order to keep the helicopter stable on the slope. The CFI lifted the helicopter from the slope, and started to go into a hover, slowly letting the helicopter drift to the left away from the slope. The helicopter started to settle, and the instructor could not lower collective to roll the throttle on to gain power. The helicopter was continuing a drift to the left when the tail stinger and tail rotor contacted something on the slope. The helicopter began an immediate and rapid right yaw. The CFI rolled the throttle off to arrest the rotation, and the helicopter stopped spinning. The helicopter landed softly, but rolled over due to the steepness of the slope. The pilot reported no prior mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On February 29, 2008, at 0933 Pacific standard time, a Schweizer 269C, N958CP, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on uneven ground while practicing pinnacle approaches near the North Las Vegas Airport (KVGT), near Las Vegas, Nevada. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) was not injured. The pilot under instruction (PUI) sustained a minor injury. The helicopter was operated by Airwork, LLC, of Las Vegas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local area instructional flight. In a written statement, the CFI reported that he and the PUI were practicing pinnacle approaches and had already completed a few high reconnaissance and low reconnaissance of a pinnacle. They proceeded to the next ridge line, and made an approach to it. During the last 50 feet of the approach, the rotor rotations per minute (rpm) started to decay as the PUI was raising the collective. The CFI advised the PUI to roll his throttle up. The CFI also reached for the throttle. The PUI was still pulling in pitch. Both rpm's decayed further. The CFI took full control at this point. He attempted to descend down the side of the pinnacle, but the helicopter was descending too fast. The CFI completed a steep slope landing, holding in full right cyclic. However, the helicopter began to slide backwards. The CFI repeatedly put in both right and left pedal, digging the skids into the ground to prevent further sliding. At this point, half of the collective was pulled in as well as full right cyclic (to the cyclic stop). The CFI determined that his only option was to put the helicopter into a hover from the slope, hover to the left and down the approximate 1,000 foot cliff, and then, with plenty of altitude available, attempt to gain airspeed and return rpm. The CFI then leveled the helicopter from the slope and started to go into a hover. Rotor rpm was barely into the green. As both skids came off the ground, the CFI allowed the helicopter to slowly drift to the left to get off the slope. The helicopter started to settle as he could not lower collective to roll the throttle on to gain power. The helicopter continued to drift to the left, and the tail stinger and tail rotor contacted something on the slope. The helicopter began an immediate and fast right yaw. The CFI rolled the throttle off to arrest the rotation. The helicopter stopped spinning. The helicopter landed softly, but the helicopter rolled over due to the slope. Both the CFI and the PUI exited through the passenger side door. The pilot reported no prior mechanical malfunctions. The pilot reported the weather at the crash sight as winds approximately 5 knots out of the west. An automated weather report indicated weather was clear with light and variable winds, not gusting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N958CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N958CP), registered now, S/N S1710, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 269C - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1710 - Airframe hours: 5230 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airwork LLC - Registered owner: LJ Air Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2007, 48 hours before - Departed: VGT, LAS VEGAS, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 38; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 4,300 total, 700 in this make and model, 4,200 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F - Observed at: VGT, 10 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 20080229011589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080229011589A), Feb 29, 2008: Hughes 269C, Mount Charlest, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) Helicopter, N958CP, owned by [privacy data omitted] and operated for instruction CFR 14 part 61 crashed doing pinnacle landings on the west side of the… ## Other investigations on N958CP (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN05CA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05CA079), May 19, 2005: Schweizer 269C (N958CP), Pueblo, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot. 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.