WATKINS GLEN, NY, USA
N330TT
SCHWEIZER 269D
DURING A CERTIFICATION TEST FLIGHT INVOLVING A SERIES OF DESCENTS AT LOW ROTOR RPM AND LOW AIRSPEEDS, THE ENGINE OF THE PROTOTYPE HELICOPTER LOST POWER. AN AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A TAIL LOW CONDITION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR AND MAIN ROTOR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AT A HIGH GROSS WEIGHT AND AFT CENTER OF GRAVITY TO MEET CERTIFICATION CRITERIA. THE RIGGING BETWEEN THE THROTTLE AND FUEL CONTROL UNIT WAS EXAMINED AND FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY SET, CAUSING THE PREVENTION OF CONTINUOUS ENGINE POWER THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT TEST PROFILE.
FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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