# NTSB NYC01LA206: Schweizer 300C, N1281R, Cicero, NY, August 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2001, 09:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Cicero, NY - Coordinates: 43.170303, -76.110725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1703&lon=-76.1107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52966/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA206 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while hovering, and the CFI's delayed remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis With the pilot at the controls, receiving instruction, an approach to the runway was made. As the helicopter neared the runway, it was flared and leveled about 3 feet above the ground, with no forward airspeed. The CFI observed that the rotor and engine rpm began to decrease, and helicopter was turning to the left. He then took the controls and attempted to correct the situation; however, the helicopter rotated 360 degrees, and the left landing skid struck the ground. The helicopter rolled over onto its left side and came to rest. When the helicopter and its powerplant were examined after the accident, no pre-impact failures were noted. The right landing skid was separated from the struts, and its fasteners were sheared. Dirt was observed packed into the heal of the skid. The middle and aft skid shoes were deformed and twisted clockwise on the skid. The damage was consistent of skid to ground contact while moving in a right lateral direction with significant impact force. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2001, about 0920 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer 300C, N1281R, was substantially damaged while landing at the Michael Airport (1G6), Cicero, New York. The certificated private pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was receiving instruction from the CFI. The flight departed from the Syracuse International Airport, Syracuse, New York, and proceeded to 1G6, where a normal approach and landing was conducted. After landing, the pilot took off from the runway, and re-entered the traffic pattern for a second approach. The second approach to the runway was "normal," and the helicopter was flared and leveled about 3 feet above the ground, with no forward airspeed. The helicopter then began to turn to the left. The CFI took the controls and attempted to correct the situation; however, the helicopter touched down and rolled over. According to the CFI, the helicopter was in a 3-foot hover, with the engine manifold pressure indicating 17 inches, and the rotor in the green arc. He then observed that the rotor and engine rpm began to decrease, and the helicopter was turning to the left. The CFI took the controls from the pilot, lowered the collective, and "rolled on the throttle." The helicopter rotated 360 degrees, and the left landing skid struck the ground, before the helicopter rolled over onto its left side. The helicopter came to rest at the edge of the runway, with the left side of the fuselage remaining on grass. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a representative of Schweizer Aircraft Corporation examined the helicopter and it's powerplant after the accident. According to a report prepared by the representative of the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation, no pre-impact failures were noted. When the landing skids were examined, the right skid was separated from the struts, and it's fasteners were sheared. Dirt was observed packed into the heal of the skid. The middle and aft skid shoes were deformed and twisted clockwise on the skid. The damage was consistent of skid to ground contact while moving in a right lateral direction with significant impact force. The pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight in make and model helicopter. He also reported his total flight experience in helicopters was 130 hours. The winds reported at an airport located about 5 miles north of 1G6, about the time of the accident, were from 260 degrees at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1281R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1281R-2004-07-01), registration cancelled 2004-07-01, S/N S1812, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 300C - 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: 1812 - Airframe hours: 42 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Highland Helicopter Services - Registered owner: Frank Tartaglia Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2001, 42 hours before - Departed: SYR, Syracuse, NY - Destination: 1G6, Cicero, NY - Airport: 1G6, Michael Airport, runway 28, 2,500 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 4, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,600 total, 70 in this make and model, 1,361 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 25, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 45 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: SYR, 5 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 20010808022129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010808022129A), Aug 8, 2001: Hughes 269C, Cicero, NY, No damage. (-23) On August 8, 2001, at 0900 EST a Schweizer 269-C, s/n S1812, N1281R, registered to Mr. Frank tantaglia, and operated by highland helicopters inc.,… 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.