# NTSB WPR13CA253: Schweizer 300C, N322MH, Hamilton, MT, May 1, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 1, 2013, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Hamilton, MT - Coordinates: 46.251388, -114.125556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2514&lon=-114.1256&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 87040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87040/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87040 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA253 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control during a practice autorotation and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## 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, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=8059502), [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, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during an instructional flight, the helicopter was 500 feet above ground level when he rolled the throttle off with the intent for the student to respond by initiating a straight-in autorotation. The student pilot did not respond properly, so the instructor took the controls to initiate a power recovery. The helicopter subsequently landed hard, deforming both skids and substantially damaging the airframe. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that during an instructional flight, the helicopter was at 500 feet above ground level when he rolled the throttle off with the intent for the student to respond by initiating a straight in autorotation. The student pilot did not respond properly, so the instructor took over to initiate a power recovery. The helicopter subsequently landed hard, deforming both skids and substantially damaging the airframe. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failure with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N322MH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N322MH-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N S1786, built 1999 (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: S1786 - Airframe hours: 2800 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-01A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Choice Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: Choice Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 2013, 12 hours before - Departed: 6S5, Hamilton, MT - Destination: 6S5, Hamilton, MT - Airport: 6S5, Ravalli County Airport, runway 34, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 45; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 9,517 total, 181 in this make and model, 9,336 as pilot in command, 245 in the last 90 days, 93 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F - Observed at: 6S5 ## 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 20130501006319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130501006319A), May 1, 2013: Schweizer 269C, Hamilton, MT, Substantial damage. Instructor initiated a simulated engine failure at approximately 400 feet AGL. The student did not respond quickly enough in lowering the collective even… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87040. 660 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.