Schweizer 269C-1 accident near Titusville, Florida, August 27, 2011
On August 27, 2011 at about 2:39 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 (helicopter), registered N2093U, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Titusville, Florida (Space Coast Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's landing at an unapproved location, which resulted in a ground fire from the engine exhaust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2011 · about 2:39 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Space Coast Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C-1 · all 269C-1s on the register
- Registration
- N2093U · no longer on the register · serial 0344
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, he flew to a clearing to practice quick stops. He landed in the grass that he estimated to be about 1 foot tall, reset the altimeter, and lifted off the ground into an approximate 3-foot hover. Shortly thereafter, he noticed smoke blowing past the right side of the helicopter. He said that as he attempted to maneuver the helicopter away from the smoke, the engine lost power, and the rotor speed decayed. He landed in the grass, which was on fire, and exited the helicopter, which sustained substantial thermal damage forward of the tailboom. A postaccident examination revealed that the engine exhaust had ignited the grass. According to the operator, the accident location was not an approved landing site. According to the helicopter's flight manual, a fire can result from landing in tall, dry grass due to the exhaust heat. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during landing
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of geographic area › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 98 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 12, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,788 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 24, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-G1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Bristow Academy INC
The flight
- Departed from: TIX Titusville FL at 1:20 pm
- Destination: TIX Titusville FL
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from TIX, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.