Schweizer 269C N731TA

Summary

On 17 February 2020 at about 20:15 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N731TA, operated by Tomlinson Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Ormond Beach, Florida, United States. One person was 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

17 February 2020 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ormond Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Ormond Beach Muni (OMN)

Coordinates

29.3011, -81.1139

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C

Registration

N731TA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Tomlinson Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ormond Beach → Ormond Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20CA104

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's improper pedal and cyclic input while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that, while on his first solo flight in a helicopter, the wind began to increase. Concerned the wind may become unsafe, he decided to make a full-stop landing and complete the flight. After coming in for landing and while hovering over the runway, an air traffic controller instructed the student to exit the runway via the nearest taxiway. As he made a right pedal turn onto the taxiway, the helicopter began to yaw aggressively right. Concerned the helicopter was encountering a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, he applied additional right pedal and forward cyclic to increase airspeed and abort the landing. The helicopter began to spin uncontrollably and gain altitude. He rolled off the throttle and pulled aft cyclic and full collective, the right skid impacted the ground, and the helicopter then rolled onto its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and fuselage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.