Accident Overview
On January 21, 2014, at about 1645 eastern standard time, a Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (formerly Schweizer Aircraft Corporation) 269C-1, registration N2110J, rolled over during a running landing on an open field approximately 6 nautical miles west-northwest of Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX) in Titusville, Florida. The helicopter was operated by Bristow Academy under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated on a company visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from TIX about 1545. The flight instructor and student were not injured, but the helicopter sustained substantial damage.
Flight Details
According to the operator, after departure from TIX, the flight proceeded to "Training Area Alpha," where basic maneuvers were performed before commencing instruction on running landings. The certified flight instructor (CFI) had performed the same maneuver earlier that day with another student and knew the ground was suitable. The CFI first performed a running landing and then departed to execute another. During the second running landing, which was being demonstrated by the CFI, a few seconds after ground contact, the weight of the helicopter began to shift forward, which the CFI described as typical. The CFI raised the collective slightly. With the weight of the aircraft forward and about half of the forward speed dissipated, the helicopter suddenly pitched down, causing a rolling moment. The CFI increased collective slightly more in an attempt to reduce friction, and for a brief moment, it felt as if the skid tubes had released from ground contact. However, the helicopter continued a left roll, and the main rotor contacted the ground.
Pilot and Student Accounts
The student stated that a running landing with 20 inches of manifold pressure was performed and that the landing was smooth. The slide was a bit faster than the previous landing. Suddenly, while sliding, the helicopter pitched down and to the left. The CFI tried to lift off but could not. The main rotor blades struck the ground, and the helicopter rolled over, coming to rest on its left side.
Recorder and Component Examination
Following recovery, the on-board recording devices, consisting of an Appareo GAU 2000 and RMS 2000, were removed and sent to the NTSB's Vehicle Recorder Division for read-out. The data imaging process was successful, and additional flights were downloaded to the SD card. Two flights were identified on the accident date, but neither flight captured the accident sequence.
Components of the left-hand forward strut and two fractured pieces of the left-hand tube (part number 269A3245-921) with an attached medium skid shoe (part number 269A3251-011) were removed and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory. Optical examination of the fracture surfaces revealed features and deformation patterns indicative of bending overstress of the tube. The deformation of the tube and skid was consistent with the toe of the skid deflecting inboard relative to the strut and the remainder of the tube. The chemistry of the tube material was consistent with a 7075 aluminum alloy, and the hardness and electrical conductivity were most consistent with a T6 temper condition.
Review of maintenance records indicated that the left skid tube was replaced on September 6, 2012, at an airframe total time of 2228.0 hours. At the time of the accident, the airframe total time was 2983.1 hours, representing an elapsed time of 755.1 hours since replacement.