Schweizer 269C 1 accident near Titusville, Florida, January 21, 2014
On January 21, 2014 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 2009 Schweizer 269C 1 (helicopter), registered N2110J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Titusville, Florida (Space Coast Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s inadvertent side-loading of the left skid while demonstrating a running landing, which resulted in a bending overstress fracture of the left skid tube and a subsequent roll-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2014 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Space Coast Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C 1, built 2009 · all 269C 1s on the register
- Registration
- N2110J · no longer on the register · serial 0361
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight, the flight instructor successfully demonstrated one running landing to the student and then returned to the same area to demonstrate a second running landing. A few seconds after ground contact, the weight of the helicopter began to shift forward, which is typical, so the flight instructor slightly raised the collective. With the weight of the helicopter forward and about half of the forward speed dissipated, the helicopter suddenly pitched down and then rolled left. The flight instructor raised the collective slightly more in an attempt to reduce friction, but the helicopter continued rolling left, and the main rotor contacted the ground. Examination revealed that the left skid tube had fractured due to bending overstress and that the left skid toe had deflected inboard relative to the strut and remainder of the tube. It is likely that the fracture occurred during the running landing. Although the helicopter was equipped with two recording devices capable of retaining data, neither of the devices recorded and retained data for the accident sequence; therefore, the amount of g-loading that the helicopter sustained during the landing sequence could not be determined.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Aux gear (tail/rotorcrft skid) › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,488 hours in all; 920 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: November 20, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 55 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,983 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-G1A (piston); 3,197 hours total
- Operator: Bristow Academy, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: TIX Titusville FL at 8:45 pm
- Destination: TIX Titusville FL
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from TIX, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.