Probable cause
The flight instructor's selection of an unsuitable landing site to practice autorotations, which resulted in an inadvertent dynamic rollover during touchdown.
NTSB analysis
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that during a local training flight, the helicopter was at a hover and he reduced power to simulate an engine failure. He said that upon ground contact, the aft portion of helicopter's left skid sank into the mud, the helicopter began to roll to the left, and he attempted corrective action for a dynamic rollover. However, the helicopter rolled over on to its left side resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and fuselage. The CFI and student pilot both stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11CA201 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 20, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania
- Nearest airport
- Pocono Mountains Municipal Air (MPO)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Schweizer 269C-1
- N-number
- N153HT
- Category
- Helicopter
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.