SCHWEIZER 269C 1
Mount Pocono, PA — November 4, 2015
Event Information
| Date | November 4, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA16CA045 |
| Event ID | 20151110X43151 |
| Location | Mount Pocono, PA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 41.13972, -75.37666 |
| Airport | POCONO MOUNTAINS MUNI |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | SCHWEIZER |
| Model | 269C 1 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The student pilot's failure to remove the tension applied to the cyclic before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and the tail rotor striking the ground.
Full Narrative
The solo student helicopter pilot reported that during flight in the traffic pattern, her noise canceling headset malfunctioned, and she landed on the grass adjacent to the runway to troubleshoot the issue. After landing, she "locked the collective down" and "put some tension on the cyclic." Subsequently, the headset began to function, so she removed the friction on the the collective and applied power for hover flight, forgetting there was still tension applied to the cyclic. When power was applied, the student pilot reported that she did not have enough cyclic control and the helicopter hovered backwards and the tail rotor struck the ground. The tail rotor drive shaft was substantially damaged.
The student pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.