Ormond Beach Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
Monday, July 23, 2007 12:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were practicing an engine failure, with a 180-degree turn. According to the CFI, the student pilot attempted to "stretch," to reach a field to the helicopter's left, even though a more obtainable field was located to the helicopter's right. The CFI called for a go-around at 150 feet above the ground; however, when the student pilot rolled on the throttle and pulled up on the collective, the rpm began to drop quickly, and the helicopter continued to descend. The CFI took the controls; however, the helicopter struck pine trees, and descended to the ground. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/2007
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Ormond Beach
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32174
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 291802N
Event Location Longitude 0810649W
Event Location Airport Ormond Beach
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OMN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 29
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID OMN
Elevation of weather observation facility 29
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22271
NTSB Notification Source 6120
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2007 7:09AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N171TA
NTSB Number NYC07CA184
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model 269C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0161
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 Jul 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1933
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Tomlinson Aviation
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Ormond Beach
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32174
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code OMN
Departure City Ormond Beach
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 2 2007 7:33PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
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 --