# NTSB MIA08CA202: Schweizer 269C-1, N1901M, Titusville, FL, September 25, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 25, 2008, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Titusville, FL
- Coordinates: 28.533332, -80.900001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5333&lon=-80.9000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69004
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69004/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA202

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a simulated autorotation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Autorotation: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting flight maneuvers in a helicopter. During one of the maneuvers, the instructor simulated a forced-landing. The student pilot entered the helicopter into an autorotation. Upon reaching about 200 feet above the ground, the student pilot pulled aft cyclic and raised the collective. The main rotor rpm dropped rapidly and forward airspeed decreased. The instructor then took over the controls. The helicopter subsequently landed hard and the main rotor blades made contact with a tree and the helicopter's tail section before the helicopter came to rest on its right side.

## Factual narrative

The flight instructor of the Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter stated that he and the student pilot were performing maneuvers. The student pilot had just completed a maximum performance departure from a confined area, with a left turnout, leveling out at 600 feet above ground level (AGL). The instructor simulated a forced landing condition. The student pilot then entered a 180-degree autorotation to the left, while maintaining good rpm control and a 60-knot airspeed attitude. Upon reaching between 150 to 200 feet AGL in the descent of the autorotation, the student pilot pulled aft cyclic and raised the collective. The main rotor rpm dropped rapidly to approximately 380 rpm and the forward airspeed decreased. With immediate response of the instructor to the problem, the lack of altitude did not allow him to recover completely, but he did reduce the force of impact. After leveling the aircraft and cushioning the touchdown, the blades came in contact with a tree, forcing the helicopter onto its right side. Once the blades hit the tree, a blade then struck the tail, and the instructor immediately cut the throttle to idle position and instructed the student pilot to pull the fuel shutoff valve, shutting down the engine. The instructor and the student pilot exited the helicopter, and the student pilot received minor injuries.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1901M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1901M-2013-08-26), registration cancelled 2013-08-26, S/N 0266, built 2006 (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-G1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-g1a) (registry code 41898, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 0266
- Airframe hours: 1487
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-G1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Bristow Academy Inc
- Registered owner: Bristow Academy Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 2008
- Departed: TIX, Titusville, FL
- Destination: TIX, Titusville, FL
- Airport: TIX, Space Coast Regional Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 19, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 565 total, 505 in this make and model, 507 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 513 total, 37 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KTIX

## 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 20080925849229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080925849229A), Sep 25, 2008: Hughes 269C1, Titusville, FL, Destroyed. (-23) During a training flight the student was practicing auto rotation beginning at approximately 600' AGL, at approximately 200' the student began to make…

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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