Space Coast Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Titusville, Florida 32780
Saturday, October 29, 2005 11:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

the helicopter landed hard during a practice autorotation. According to the pilot the accident practice autorotation was planned to the ground, and it was uneventful until he executed the flare. He stated that as he flared the helicopter, maintained the flare to get "the sink feeling", then came to a level attitude, and attempted to cushion the set-down, the helicopter "fell right through." He said the helicopter impacted the ground hard, incurring damage, because the sink rate was too great. According to the pilot, prior to the accident, there were no mechanical failures and malfunctions to the helicopter or any of its systems.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-in-command's improper flare during a practice autorotative landing, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/29/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Titusville
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32780
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 283053N
Event Location Longitude 0804757W
Event Location Airport Space Coast Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KTIX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID TIX
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.23
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19260
NTSB Notification Source FAA ATL Comm. Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 29 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando, Florida

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1567C
NTSB Number MIA06CA013
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model 269C-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0203
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Helicopter Adventures, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 365 Golden Knight Blvd
Aircraft Owner City Titusville
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32780
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Helicopter Adventures Inc.,
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 365 Golden Knights Boulevard
Operator City Titusville
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32780
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TIX
Departure City Titusville
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TIX
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 10 2005 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --