Sikorsky 269C N1099N

Summary

On 5 March 2012 at about 17:36 local time, a Sikorsky 269C registered N1099N, operated by Xotic Aviation LLC., was involved in an accident near Staples, Texas, 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

5 March 2012 at 17:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Staples, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.8211, -97.8631

Aircraft

Sikorsky 269C

Registration

N1099N

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Xotic Aviation LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fentress → San Antonio

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA181

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to attain the proper descent rate during autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident were the inflight vibrations and loss of torque pedal response for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

About 15 minutes into a cross-country flight, the pilot heard a "pop" that sounded "like metal breaking." He felt a violent vibration and loss of torque pedal response. The pilot reported that there was no change in rpm, and he performed a precautionary autorotation and landing due to the vibration. During the landing, the helicopter impacted the ground hard and the main rotor blades contacted the tailboom.   On-scene and subsequent laboratory examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the pop and subsequent vibration could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.