Schweizer 269C-1 N21409

Summary

On 10 July 2023 at about 14:35 local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 registered N21409, operated by US Aviation Training Solutions, was involved in an accident near Titusville, Florida, United States. One person was 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

10 July 2023 at 14:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Titusville, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX)

Coordinates

28.5148, -80.7992

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C-1

Registration

N21409

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

US Aviation Training Solutions

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA301

1 person had minor injuries.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while on the ground when his attention was diverted for post flight activities.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After completion of a local solo flight, the student pilot was conducting the engine cooling shutdown procedure on the dry ramp when the helicopter suddenly became airborne, climbed about 30ft, and entered a nose down attitude impacting the ground. The helicopter came to rest upright, and the pilot was able to egress from the helicopter without further incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, the tail boom, and the tail rotor system. The student pilot reported that he had engaged both the cyclic and collective friction prior to completing other post flight activities. Postaccident examination of the helicopter showed the collective friction to not be fully engaged. The friction was found at an approximate 90-degree angle to the collective lever, which corresponds to the friction not being fully engaged. The helicopter pilot’s flight manual states that the collective friction is to be on for the engine cooling shutdown procedure. No preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal flight operation were reported.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.