N61193
Schweizer 269C
According to the FAA, the pilot had a cargo strap in an external basket which blew out of the container and wrapped around the tail rotor, damaging the pitch change links, and the 90 degree gearbox. The pilot attempted to hover during a run on landing, and the helicopter began spinning and impacted the ground. According to the pilot, he heard a bang, and then lost control of the anti-torque rotor pedals. Prior to touchdown, the helicopter yawed to the right, made a 360 degree turn, and impacted the ground. The Schweizer Aircraft Corp. Pilot's Flight Manual states that in the event of a tail rotor failure, a pilot should enter autorotation. The FAA's Advisory Circular 61-13B states that during the run on landing procedure, directional control should be maintained with cyclic control and by applying throttle to swing the nose to the right. One should not attempt to hover during a run on landing because it puts the helicopter at a high power setting. Autorotation should be used if the tail rotor failure occurs during a hover or if dangerous attitudes are incurred through the addition of power.
On April 27, 1998, about 1045 atlantic standard time, a Schweizer 269C, N61193, collided with the ground following a loss of tail rotor control at the Fernando Luis Ribas Domminicci Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The helicopter was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight originated Ceiba, Puerto Rico at 0945. According to the FAA, the pilot had a cargo strap in a external basket which sat on the right side of the fuselage. While trying to land, the cargo strap blew out of the external baggage container and wrapped around the tail rotor, damaging the pitch change links, and the 90 degree gearbox. The pilot then attempted to hover during a run on landing, and the helicopter began spinning. The helicopter impacted the ground, substantially damaging the airframe and skids. According to the pilot, he heard a loud bang in the aft section of the fuselage while on approach. He then lost control of the anti-torque rotor pedals. The pilot stated he attempted a run on landing. Prior to touchdown, the helicopter yawed to the right, made a 360 degree turn, and impacted the ground. The Schweizer Aircraft Corp. Pilot's Flight Manual states that in the event of a tail rotor failure, a pilot should enter autorotation. The FAA's Advisory Circular 61-13B states that during the run on landing procedure, directional control should be maintained with cyclic control and by gently applying throttle to swing the nose to the right. If in a hover, the helicopter will swing to the right because the power is at a high setting. So, one should not attempt to hover while doing a run on landing. Autorotation is used if the tail rotor failure occurs during a hover or if dangerous attitudes are incurred through the addition of power.
The pilot's failure to adequately secure the cargo strap which became entangled in the tail rotor, leading to a loss of the tail rotor control. This was followed by an improperly executed emergency procedure and an in-flight collision with the ground. A factor was the inadequate procedure supplied by the manufacturer.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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