Space Coast Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Titusville, Florida 32780
Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The rotorcraft pilot stated that the purpose of his flight was to practice flight maneuvers. He said that he was at a 3-foot hover when the right rear skid made contact with the ground. The helicopter suddenly rolled onto its right side and sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor gearbox. The pilot did not report any mechanical or flight control anomalies. Winds about the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 5 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during hover, resulting in a rollover.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/13/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Titusville
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32780
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 283053N
Event Location Longitude 0804757W
Event Location Airport Space Coast Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TIX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 34
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 950 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID TIX
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25721
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 10 2009 2:50PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1565B
NTSB Number ERA09CA349
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-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0202
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 May 27 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 2609
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRISTOW ACADEMY INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 365 Golden Knights Blvd
Aircraft Owner City Titusville
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32780-8124
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BRISTOW ACADEMY INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 365 Golden Knights Blvd
Operator City Titusville
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32780-8124
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TIX
Departure City Titusville
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TIX
Destination City Titusville
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2009 3:24PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --