Schweizer 269C accident near Eden Prairie, Minnesota, May 22, 2017
On May 22, 2017 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 2000 Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N2032S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Eden Prairie, Minnesota (Flying Cloud airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's loss of lateral control while practicing autorotations from a hover and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a bounced landing and dynamic roll-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2017 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Eden Prairie, Minnesota · Flying Cloud · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C 1, built 2000 · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2032S · no longer on the register · serial 0107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor in the helicopter reported that the student pilot was practicing autorotations from a hover while pointing the helicopter into the wind over tall grass from about 1 ft above the ground. He added that the student "rolled off the throttle, the helicopter descended to the ground, appeared to bounce, moved slightly to the right and began a quick roll to the right." Subsequently, the helicopter pivoted on its right skid, the main rotor impacted terrain, and the helicopter rolled over to the right. The main rotor and windscreen sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter 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 maneuvering (hover)
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Dynamic rollover during landing defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 335 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 214 as pilot in command; 19 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 2,350 as pilot in command; 2,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 25, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,773.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HO-360-C1A (piston); 462 hours total
- Operator: Hummingbird Ventures LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: FCM Minneapolis MN at 8:15 pm
- Destination: FCM Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KFCM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 20, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor - Student Pilot Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.