Schweizer 269C-1 N153HT

Summary

On 20 March 2011 at about 18:39 local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 registered N153HT, operated by Hi-Tech Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, 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

20 March 2011 at 18:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Pocono Mountains Municipal Air (MPO)

Coordinates

41.1356, -75.3739

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C-1

Registration

N153HT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Hi-Tech Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mount Pocono → Mount Pocono

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11CA201

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's selection of an unsuitable landing site to practice autorotations, which resulted in an inadvertent dynamic rollover during touchdown.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that during a local training flight, the helicopter was at a hover and he reduced power to simulate an engine failure. He said that upon ground contact, the aft portion of helicopter's left skid sank into the mud, the helicopter began to roll to the left, and he attempted corrective action for a dynamic rollover. However, the helicopter rolled over on to its left side resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage. The CFI and student pilot both stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.