Schweizer 269C-1 accident near Landrum, South Carolina, July 9, 2005
On July 9, 2005 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 (helicopter), registered N301MG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Landrum, South Carolina (Fairview airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of the flight controls (collective pitch and cylic controls) during a take off to a hover resulting in the helicopter encountering dynamic roll over and rolling over on its right side.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2005 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Landrum, South Carolina · Fairview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C-1 · all 269C-1s on the register
- Registration
- N301MG · registry record · serial 0157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he made an approach to the sod area adjacent to runway 32 and he was not aware of the fact that the sod area was wet and soft. He applied collective pitch abruptly as he was taking off to a hover. The left skid became airborne and the right skid remained on the ground. The helicopter encountered dynamic roll over before the pilot could apply collective pitch and lateral cyclic. The helicopter rolled over on its right side. The pilot stated there were no anomalies with the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,894 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 33A Landrum CA at 1:20 pm
- Destination: GMU Greenville SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 320, 2,770 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from GSP, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.