# NTSB MIA98LA127: Schweizer 269-C, N7509E, Ormond Beach, FL, April 8, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 1998, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Ormond Beach, FL - Location: 29.3011° N, 81.1138° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ORMOND BEACH MUNI (OMN), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3011&lon=-81.1138&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38493 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38493/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA127 ## Probable cause The CFI's inadequate supervision and poor communication which led the rated student pilot to roll the throttle off, and the CFI's subsequent failure to apply forward cyclic to increase airspeed which resulted in the subsequent hard landing and roll over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - communications - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The CFI stated he was asking the rated pilot questions as the rated pilot was making a steep approach at 300 feet and about 35 knots airspeed. He asked the pilot receiving instruction if he could roll the throttle off. The rated pilot replied, 'roll the throttle off' and immediately rolled the throttle off. The CFI noticed an immediate drop in rotor rpm, and took over the flight controls with the helicopter in a vertical rate of descent. He lowered the collective pitch in an attempt to regain rotor rpm, but did not apply forward cyclic to increase airspeed due to low altitude. The helicopter collided with the sod area hard, and rolled over onto its left side. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 1998, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer 269-C, N7509E, registered to Tomlinson Aviation Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a hard landing at the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport, Ormond Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot flight instructor (CFI), and the airline transport-rated student pilot (SP) reported no injuries. The flight originated from Ormond Beach about 20 minutes before the accident. The CFI stated he was conducting training with the SP on obtaining a CFI in helicopters. They had completed two normal approaches and a max performance takeoff from the sod area adjacent to runway 17. They departed the sod area with the SP flying the helicopter at 500 feet. He was asking the SP questions and told him to make a steep approach. The SP turned base and final. He descended to 300 feet and was maintaining about 35 knots. He asked the SP, can you roll the throttle off? The SP replied, " roll the throttle off," and immediately rolled the throttle off. The CFI noticed an immediate drop in rotor rpm, and took over the flight controls with the helicopter in a vertical rate of descent. He lowered the collective pitch in an attempt to regain rotor rpm, but not apply forward cyclic to increase airspeed due to low altitude. The helicopter collided with the sod area hard, and rolled over onto its left side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7509E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7509E-2005-11-16), registration cancelled 2005-11-16, S/N S1436, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 269-C - 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: 1436 - Airframe hours: 4291 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tomlinson Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1998, 46 hours before - Departed: OMN - Airport: OMN, Ormond Beach Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 788 total, 345 in this make and model, 731 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 6 nm away 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.