On June 5, 2000, a Schweizer 269C-1 (registration N2029H) was involved in an aviation accident near Brentwood, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student's improper execution of a quick-stop maneuver in that he misjudged his altitude and failed to terminate at a stationary hover prior to descending to a low hover. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A solo student pilot reported vibration and yaw during a quick stop maneuver, leading to loss of control and a hard landing. Examination found main rotor blade damage and a bent tail rotor blade, but no mechanical anomalies.
Accident Narrative
A solo student pilot was conducting quick stop maneuvers in a helicopter. During one such maneuver, the helicopter was nearly stationary in a high hover at approximately 30 feet above ground level. As the pilot initiated a descent to a low hover, the helicopter began to vibrate and yaw to the left. The controls became ineffective, and the helicopter entered an uncontrolled spin, eventually impacting the ground and rolling onto its side.
Examination Findings
Post-accident inspection of the main rotor blades revealed modest leading edge damage, modest chordwise striations, and approximately 20 degrees of uniform upward bending deformation from root to tip. One tail rotor blade was undamaged, while the other exhibited a bend of about 10 degrees tip-inboard at the midspan. The engine was started and ran smoothly. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were identified.