Schweizer 269C N8968F

Summary

On 7 April 2003 at about 20:45 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N8968F was involved in an accident near Wichita, Kansas, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 April 2003 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Westport (71K)

Coordinates

37.6475, -97.3844

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C

Registration

N8968F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wichita → Wichita

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA098

1 person had minor injuries.

The premature lowering of the collective and the improper use of the cyclic during the run-on landing performed by the flight instructor, as well as the main rotor/tail boom contact. Contributing factors were the intentional run-on landing, the grass landing surface and the severed tail boom.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was substantially damaged during a run-on landing following a practice autorotation. The flight instructor stated that during the landing the helicopter rotated forward "lifting the tailboom into the path of the main-rotor, which severed the tailboom." The aircraft turned to the left approximately 90 degrees and came to a rest. The instructor was demonstrating a full touchdown autorotation to a run-on landing on the grass area adjacent to a paved runway. The dual student reported that the touchdown itself was light and the helicopter did not decelerate very rapidly until the end of the ground run. According to both pilots the grass landing area was smooth, firm and dry. Neither pilot reported any malfunctions with the helicopter or the engine prior to the accident. The pilot's flight manual included a caution stating: "Avoid rapid lowering of collective pitch control after ground contact." The FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook specifies that when conducting a running landing, "due to the increased ground friction when you lower the collective, the helicopter's nose might pitch forward. Exercise caution not to correct this pitching movement with aft cyclic since this movement could result in the rotor making contact with the tailboom."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.