Denton Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denton, Texas 76205
Tuesady, April 18, 2006 10:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a local instructional flight, while practicing a simulated forced landing to an open field, the main rotor RPM was allowed to decrease during the autorotation. A high sink rate developed. The 4,000-hour helicopter flight instructor was unable to regain rotor RPM and the helicopter landed hard on its skids before rolling over on its side. An examination of the helicopter's flight controls and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the improper supervision by the flight instructor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/18/2006
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Denton
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76205
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331202N
Event Location Longitude 0971152W
Event Location Airport DENTON MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DTO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 642
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID DTO
Elevation of weather observation facility 642
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.68
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20077
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 18 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 31 2006 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fort Woth, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N209LH
NTSB Number DFW06LA108
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model 269C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number S1881
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 625
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Longhorn Helicopters Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10 Hayes Court
Aircraft Owner City Trophy Club
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76262
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DTO
Departure City DENTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 17 2006 5:42PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --