Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
Thursday, May 13, 2010 12:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

In preparation for an upcoming private pilot check ride, the student helicopter pilot was performing a simulated forced landing with his certificated flight instructor (CFI). During the flare, the student abruptly pulled up on the collective and rolled the throttle closed. The engine sputtered and subsequently experienced a total loss of power. The CFI attempted to recover power; however, insufficient altitude remained and the helicopter touched down on the right skid and bounced, severing the tail boom. The CFI stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot’s improper use of collective and throttle during the landing flare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/13/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Ormond Beach
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32174
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 292023N
Event Location Longitude 0811301W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
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 1650 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID OMN
Elevation of weather observation facility 29
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.24
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
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27880
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern 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 17 2010 11:24AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N113TA
NTSB Number ERA10CA264
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 1
Aircraft Serial Number 0348
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 10 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 916
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Tomlinson Aviation Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address 92 Hangar Way
Aircraft Owner City Ormond Beach
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32174-6611
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Tomlinson Aviation Inc
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 92 Hangar Way
Operator City Ormond Beach
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32174-6611
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OMN
Departure City Ormond Beach
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code OMN
Destination City Ormond Beach
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 17 2010 11:24AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
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 --