Schweizer 269C N7507J
20 May 1991 · Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 20 May 1991 at about 13:45 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N7507J, operated by Dooley Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 13:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.9297, -81.0192
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C
- Registration
- N7507J
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Dooley Helicopters, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Greenville
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL91LA096
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION TO A POISONOUS SNAKE IN THE COCKPIT AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS FLYING AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT. HE TURNED ON THE COCKPIT HEAT. A COPPERHEAD SNAKE EMERGED FROM THE HEAT VENT NEAR HIS FEET. AS THE PILOT MANEUVERED TOWARDS A LANDING AREA, THE SNAKE APPEARED POISED TO STRIKE. HE TRIED TO STEP ON THE SNAKE WITH HIS FOOT AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED TREES AND TERRAIN AND WAS DESTROYED. THE SNAKE WAS NOT FOUND AFTER THE ACCIDENT. DRUG, ALCOHOL, AND SNAKE VENOM TESTING ON THE PILOT WAS NEGATIVE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep 1991 | Schweizer 269C | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Pacific Aviation Group, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Jun 1991 | Schweizer 269B | Cottonwood, California, United States | McAuliffe, JOE Company | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Dec 1992 | Schweizer 269C | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Board of Police Commissioners | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Oct 1992 | Schweizer 269C | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | Baltimore City Police Dept. | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Dec 1992 | Schweizer 269C | Elmira, New York, United States | Schweizer Aircraft Corp | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jul 1992 | Schweizer 269C | Simi Valley, California, United States | Pacific Shore Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1991 | Mooney M20F | Pageland, South Carolina, United States | Blackwell, Billy | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 May 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Surf Side Beach, South Carolina, United States | Riggott, Robert C. & Lois J. | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 Jun 1991 | Beechcraft 95-B55 | Irmo, South Carolina, United States | Cubco, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Mar 1991 | Cessna 182D | Greer, South Carolina, United States | Blair, David M. and Frances R. | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1991 | Cessna 177RG | Saluda, South Carolina, United States | Southeast Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 May 1991 | Schweizer SGS2-33A | Little River, South Carolina, United States | Carolina Sailplanes, Inc. | No injuries | - |