Pilot Debrief

SCHWEIZER 269C near Las Vegas, NV — 2015-08-18

Final reportWPR15LA245
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Date
2015-08-18
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Aircraft
SCHWEIZER 269C
Registration
N17YS
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power during a practice autorotation for reasons that could not be determined.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that, during the instructional flight in the helicopter, he was demonstrating entry procedures for an autorotation with the student pilot following along on the flight controls. The instructor smoothly lowered the collective, applied right pedal, and pulled aft on the cyclic to enter the autorotation. Immediately after entering the maneuver, he heard a change in engine noise and saw that the engine rpm gauge indicated zero. The instructor attempted to restart the engine by pressing the start button several times; however, the starter did not engage. The instructor continued the autorotative descent to the ground and landed hard. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the battery's positive lead was separated from the battery terminal, and the lead exhibited corrosion. When the positive lead was reattached to the battery, and the engine started and operated normally. The reason for the loss of engine power during the autorotation could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
The flight instructor could have checked battery connections before the flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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