Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On May 19, 2005, approximately 0920 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N958CP, was substantially damaged when it made a hard landing during a short approach at the Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB), Pueblo, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight instructor and student pilot on board reported no injures.The local flight departed PUB approximately 0830.

According to the accident report submitted by the flight instructor, they were conducting steep approaches to runway 26L. The first three approaches and landings were uneventful. During the fourth approach, approximately 10 to 15 feet agl, the student noted that the rpm's had dropped into the yellow arc around 2800 rpm. The student stated that he "lowered the collective and rolled on the throttle." The helicopter "dropped dramatically." The student attempted to cushion the landing by adding collective. The helicopter impacted the ground and "spun left" approximately 180 degrees before coming to a rest. During the impact the skids split, the tail boom was bent backwards, the tail rotor drive shaft separated, and the frame of the helicopter was bent. An examination of the helicopter's systems revealed no anomalies. the student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot.