# NTSB NYC04LA051: Schweizer 269C-1, N358SS, Byron, NY, December 27, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 27, 2003, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Byron, NY - Coordinates: 43.067501, -78.090278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0675&lon=-78.0903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Textron Lycoming, Federal Aviation Administration, Schweizer Aircraft Corp. - NTSB case key (mKey): 58534 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58534/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA051 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of the collective, and failure to maintain main rotor rpm, which resulted in low main rotor rpm and 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 - collective - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The pilot was practicing autorotations into an off airport open field. The landing was hard, and the pilot received serious injuries. The pilot reported the he felt a shudder during the autorotation, and tried to regain airspeed by using forward cyclic, but he was unable to regain airspeed. Examination of the helicopter found evidence of low main rotor rpm. No discrepancies were found with the flight controls and engine. ## Factual narrative On December 27, 2003, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter, N358SS, was substantially damaged during a practice autorotation in Byron, New York. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed from Genesee County Airport (GVQ), Batavia, New York. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he flew to Le Roy Airport (5G0), and performed practice approaches. He then departed Le Roy Airport to the northwest, and looked for a field to practice autorotations. He further stated: "...I started the autorotation at 1,300 feet msl [600 feet agl]. At approx, 300 feet into the auto, I felt a shudder. I tried using forward cyclic to regain airspeed, but to no avail. I crashed into a farm field that was plowed and completely devoid of all vegetation." According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the landing skids had collapsed. The tail boom was separated from the aft fuselage, and an indentation was found on the tail boom, consistent with main rotor blade strike. The pilot's seat was crushed down. The helicopter was re-examined under the supervision of an FAA airworthiness inspector, with representatives from Schweizer Aircraft Co, and Textron Lycoming. According to the report from a representative of Schweizer Aircraft Co.: "...All three rotor blades were still attached to the rotor hub. One blade (yellow) was bent and deformed significantly, the other two were straight and intact, exhibiting only minor compression buckles at the root end trailing edge...General condition of the rotor system indicates minimal rotor RPM at impact...All [flight] controls showed continuity although the cabin damage restricted the travel of the cyclic...Measurement of the MR [main rotor] Pitch Links indicate they are slightly shorter than nominal length and that the collective rod was long. These measurements are very close to the average aircraft after production flight test and aircraft certification...The engine rotated with signs of compression on all cylinders. The valve train upper end was intact and appeared to operate satisfactorily. The magnetos were removed and spun up with spark seen at all lead ends. The oil screen and filter were checked and found clear of debris. The FAA investigator on site reported a strong fuel smell at the scene and there was residual fuel in the carburetor when it was disconnected...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N358SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N358SS-2006-03-03), registration cancelled 2006-03-03, S/N 0121, built 2000 (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: 121 - Airframe hours: 907.6 - Engines: Textron Lycoming HO-360-C1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Doyle Helicopter LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2003, 96.2 hours before - Departed: GVQ, Batavia, NY - Destination: GVQ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 9, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 275 total, 105 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: ROC, 19 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 20031227035519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031227035519A), Dec 27, 2003: Hughes 269C1, Byron, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 27, 2003 at approximately 1415 EST, a Schweizer HU-269C-1, bearing registration number N358SS and registered to doyle helicopters, ll.,… 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.