Summary
On August 27, 2011, a Schweizer 269C-1 (N2093U) was involved in an accident near Titusville, FL. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The student pilot's landing at an unapproved location, which resulted in a ground fire from the engine exhaust.
According to a written statement by the pilot, he flew to a clearing, landed, and reset the altimeter to zero. He estimated the grass to be about one-foot in height. He lifted off the ground, put the helicopter into an approximate three-foot hover, and shortly thereafter, noticed smoke. He considered that there was a possibility of the grass beginning to catch on fire and attempted to maneuver the aircraft to the forward and left. At which time the carburetor equipped engine lost power and the rotor speed decayed. He landed in the grass, which was on fire, and exited the helicopter, which sustained substantial thermal damage forward of the tailboom. According to the operator, the accident location was outside of their approved landing sites.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA11CA474. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2093U.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's landing at an unapproved location, which resulted in a ground fire from the engine exhaust.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to a written statement by the pilot, he flew to a clearing, landed, and reset the altimeter to zero. He estimated the grass to be about one-foot in height. He lifted off the ground, put the helicopter into an approximate three-foot hover, and shortly thereafter, noticed smoke. He considered that there was a possibility of the grass beginning to catch on fire and attempted to maneuver the aircraft to the forward and left. At which time the carburetor equipped engine lost power and the rotor speed decayed. He landed in the grass, which was on fire, and exited the helicopter, which sustained substantial thermal damage forward of the tailboom. According to the operator, the accident location was outside of their approved landing sites. The operator estimated that the grass was about three foot in height and that the location of the engine exhaust was directed toward the grass. The Schweizer Aircraft Pilot's Flight Manual has a caution that a fire can result from a landing in tall dry grass due to the exhaust heat. The operator reported no mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities prior to the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA11CA474