Accident
On February 29, 2008, at 0933 Pacific standard time, a Schweizer 269C, registration N958CP, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on uneven terrain. The accident occurred while the helicopter was practicing pinnacle approaches near the North Las Vegas Airport (KVGT), near Las Vegas, Nevada. The helicopter was operated by Airwork, LLC, of Las Vegas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight.
Sequence of Events
According to a written statement by the certificated flight instructor (CFI), he and the pilot under instruction (PUI) were practicing pinnacle approaches and had completed several high and low reconnaissance passes over a pinnacle. They then proceeded to an adjacent ridge line and initiated an approach. During the final 50 feet of the descent, rotor rpm began to decay as the PUI raised the collective. The CFI advised the PUI to roll the throttle up and also reached for the throttle himself. The PUI continued to increase collective pitch, causing rotor rpm to decrease further. The CFI assumed full control and attempted to descend down the side of the pinnacle, but the helicopter descended too rapidly. He executed a steep slope landing, holding full right cyclic, but the helicopter began to slide backward. The CFI applied both right and left pedal inputs, digging the skids into the ground to arrest the slide, while simultaneously pulling in half collective and maintaining full right cyclic to the stop.
Determining that his only option was to enter a hover from the slope, the CFI leveled the helicopter and initiated a hover. Rotor rpm was barely in the green arc. As both skids left the ground, he allowed the helicopter to drift left to clear the slope. The helicopter began to settle, as he could not lower collective to increase throttle and power. As the helicopter continued leftward drift, the tail stinger and tail rotor contacted an object on the slope, causing an immediate and rapid right yaw. The CFI rolled the throttle off to stop the rotation, and the helicopter ceased spinning.
Aftermath
The helicopter then landed softly but rolled over due to the sloping terrain. Both the CFI and the PUI exited through the passenger side door. The CFI was not injured; the PUI sustained a minor injury. The pilot reported no prior mechanical malfunctions. The pilot stated that the weather at the accident site was approximately 5 knots wind from the west. An automated weather report indicated clear skies with light and variable winds, not gusting.