# NTSB MIA05CA006: Schweizer 269C, N119DM, Diamond Head, MS, October 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 16, 2004, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Diamond Head, MS - Coordinates: 30.362777, -89.386947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3628&lon=-89.3869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 60464 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60464/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent loss of tail rotor effectiveness during takeoff to a hover and aborted landing in a grass area resulting in the grass catching fire from the engine exhaust and the helicopter being consumed by fire. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - loss of tail rotor effectiveness - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - initiated, pilot in command - Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating - exhaust system - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that a few minutes after departure, he performed a precautionary off airport landing in cleared area in marsh section next to the bay, to correct a sticking floor push-to-talk microphone switch. The helicopter was shut down and pilot corrected the sticking microphone switch. The helicopter was started and as it took off to a hover it spun to the right. The pilot managed to land the helicopter in the marsh area. He shut down the helicopter; however, the grass caught fire from the heat of the engine exhaust system. The fire quickly spread, consuming the helicopter and a section of the marsh area before the fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. ## Factual narrative On October 16, 2004, about 1250 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N119DM, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, caught fire during shutdown near Diamondhead Airport, Diamondhead, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and one passenger received no injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed. The flight had originated 15 minutes earlier from the Diamondhead Airport. The pilot stated that a few minutes after departure, he performed a precautionary off airport landing in cleared area in marsh section next to the bay, to correct a sticking floor push-to-talk microphone switch. The helicopter was shut down and pilot corrected the sticking microphone switch. The helicopter was started and as it took off to a hover it spun to the right. The pilot managed to land the helicopter in the marsh area. He shut down the helicopter; however, the grass caught fire from the heat of the engine exhaust system. The fire quickly spread, consuming the helicopter and a section of the marsh area before the fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N119DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N119DM-2017-05-22), registration cancelled 2017-05-22, S/N 1460, built 1990 (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: S1460 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard D. Richard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 66Y, Diamond, MS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 1,825 total, 187 in this make and model, 94 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: HSA ## 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 20041016026379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041016026379A), Oct 16, 2004: Hughes 269C, Diamondhead, MS, Destroyed. (-23) Airman made precautionary landing to fix stuck floor mike on opposite side of cockpit. On takeoff the aircraft experienced loss of tailrotor… 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.