Schweizer 269C N7505Y

Summary

On 24 May 2012 at about 19:03 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N7505Y, operated by Wolf Tree Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Asheville, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 May 2012 at 19:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Asheville, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

Coordinates

35.4361, -82.5419

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C

Registration

N7505Y

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Wolf Tree Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Asheville → Asheville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12LA362

Nobody was injured.

The use of an aftermarket skid shoe, which resulted in the skid shoe becoming caught on a runway centerline light during the run-on landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was demonstrating a run-on landing during a flight review. The pilot conducted the approach for landing about 40 knots, and touched down left of the runway centerline on both skids. As he lowered the collective, the helicopter's right center skid shoe contacted a runway centerline light, which sheared off the right skid and its support arms. The pilot raised the collective, raised the helicopter to a hover, and turned toward the taxiway. Shortly after, the engine and rotor rpm began to drop, and the pilot opened the throttle and lowered the collective, setting the helicopter onto the left skid. The helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. According to a representative from the helicopter’s type certificate holder, the skid shoes installed on the make and model of the accident helicopter at the time of manufacture were comprised of a single piece of steel that conformed tightly to the skid. The skid shoes observed on the accident helicopter were constructed from a flat metal plate attached to the skid by two brackets, resulting in a small gap between the skid shoe and the skid, which would have allowed the skid shoe to become caught on raised objects on the ground. Review of both the helicopter’s maintenance logbook and FAA airworthiness records did not reveal any entries relating to replacement of the skid shoes.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.