# NTSB MIA93LA177: Schweizer 269C, N95AF, Punta Gorda, FL, August 18, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 1993, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Punta Gorda, FL - Coordinates: 26.909828, -81.769142 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9098&lon=-81.7691&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 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37384 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37384/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA177 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS (CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE PITCH) DURING A SIMULATED AUTOROTATION WITH TURN, RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN WITH THE TAIL SKID AND TAILROTOR BLADES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - autorotation - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WAS DEMONSTRATING A SIMULATED AUTOROTATION WITH TURN TO A RATED PRIVATE PILOT. A FLARE WAS INITIATED AT ABOUT 50 FEET AGL, INITIAL COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS APPLIED AT 15 TO 20 FEET AGL, WHEN A NOISE DESCRIBED AS A POP WAS HEARD BY BOTH CREWMEMBERS. THE TAIL SKID AND TAILROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AS THE CFI INCREASED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO TERMINATE THE AUTOROTATION AT A HOVER. THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE CFI APPLIED LEFT ANTI-TORQUE PEDAL AND ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF TO THE IDLE STOP. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP UPRIGHT ON THE SKIDS. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER BY AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR STATION REVEALED ALL DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF GROUND IMPACT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE TAILROTOR GEARBOX OR ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 1993, at about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N95AF, registered to Helicopter Training Academy Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed while the commercial pilot/flight instructor was demonstrating an autorotation with turn to the private pilot receiving instruction. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. Neither flight crewmember were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Punta Gorda Airport about 20 minutes before the accident. The flight instructor stated to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, that he conducted a flare at 50 feet agl and applied initial collective pitch at 15 to 20 feet agl, when he heard a noise described as a pop. Both crewmembers were concentrating on the noise, when the tail skid and tail rotor blades collided with the terrain as he was applying cushioning collective pitch to terminate the autorotation at a hover. The helicopter began to spin to the right. Left antitorque pedal was applied and the throttle was rolled off to the engine idle stop. The helicopter came to a complete stop upright on the skids. Examination of the helicopter by an authorized repair station revealed all damage was a result of impact with the terrain. There was no evidence of any precrash failure or malfunction of the tailrotor gear box or associated components. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95AF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N95AF-2002-07-31), registration cancelled 2002-07-31, S/N S1574, built 1991 (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: S1574 - Airframe hours: 342 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-DIA 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Helicopter Tng Academy Inc. - Registered owner: Helicopter Tng Academy Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 1993, 46 hours before - Airport: PGD, Charlotte County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 720 total, 116 in this make and model, 508 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FMY, 15 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 19930818032769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930818032769A), Aug 18, 1993: Hughes 269C, Punta Gorda, FL, Substantial damage. On practice autorotatiion to hover. Tailrotor struck ground. Spin to right prior ground impact. Bent output shaft. ## Other investigations on N95AF (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 MIA94LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA002), Oct 6, 1993: Schweizer 269C (N95AF), Opa-Locka, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER SERVICING OF THREE OF THE FOUR MAIN LANDING GEAR DAMPERS BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND INNADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT AS GROUND RESONANCE BEGAN. 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.