# NTSB MIA06CA013: Schweizer 269C-1, N1567C, Titusville, FL, October 29, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 29, 2005, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Titusville, FL
- Coordinates: 28.514722, -80.799163
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5147&lon=-80.7992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Orlando, Florida
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62762
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA06CA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62762/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06CA013

## Probable cause

The pilot-in-command's improper flare during a practice autorotative landing, 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 - simulated, pilot in command
  - flare - improper, pilot in command

## Analysis

the helicopter landed hard during a practice autorotation.  According to the pilot the accident practice autorotation was planned to the ground, and it was uneventful until he executed the flare. He stated that as he flared the helicopter, maintained the flare to get "the sink feeling",  then came to a level attitude, and attempted to cushion  the set-down, the helicopter "fell right through." He said the helicopter impacted the ground hard, incurring damage, because the sink rate was too great. According to the pilot, prior to the accident, there were no mechanical failures and malfunctions to the helicopter or any of its systems.

## Factual narrative

On October 29, 2005, about 1115 eastern standard time, a Schweizer 269C-1, N1567C, registered to and operated by Helicopter Adventures, Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, impacted the ground hard, during a practice autorotation, at Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville, Florida.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The commercial-rated pilot and flight examiner were not injured, and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Titusville, Florida, the same day, about 1030.

The pilot stated he was receiving his CFI checkride with a DPE. He further stated that having previously completed a practice autorotation to a power recovery, the accident practice autorotation was planned to the ground, and it was uneventful until he executed the flare. He stated that as he flared the helicopter, maintained the flare to get "the sink feeling",  then came to a level attitude, and attempted to cushion  the set-down, the helicopter "fell right through." He said the helicopter impacted the ground hard, incurring damage, because the sink rate was too great. According to the pilot, prior to the accident, there were no mechanical failures and malfunctions to the helicopter or any of its systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1567C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1567C-2006-03-06), registration cancelled 2006-03-06, S/N 0203, built 2005 (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 HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0203
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360 61A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TIX, Titusville, FL
- Destination: TIX
- Airport: KTIX, Space Coast Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 250 total, 176 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: TIX

## 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 20051029025739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051029025739A), Oct 29, 2005: Hughes 269C1, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] was acting as PIC of N1567C a H269C helicopter on 29 oct 2005. The pilot [privacy data omitted] was the applicant during an…

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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