Schweizer 269C N280CA
18 July 1992 · Simi Valley, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 18 July 1992 at about 16:45 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N280CA, operated by Pacific Shore Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Simi Valley, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Simi Valley, California, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C
- Registration
- N280CA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Pacific Shore Aviation, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Van Nuys → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92LA303
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE COMPANY'S MAINTENACE PERSONNEL IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE AIRCRAFT'S IDLE RPM AND THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION IS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND DUAL STUDENT WERE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS THAT WERE TERMINATED WITH POWER RECOVERIES AT A 3-FOOT HOVER. DURING THE SIXTH AUTOROTATIVE APPROACH THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE HARD LANDING SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE HELICOPTER. AN ENGINE OPERATIONAL TEST AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCLOSED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT OPERATE AT IDLE RPM. THE CFI HAD LOGGED 154 TOTAL HELICOPTER FLIGHT HOURS OF WHICH 9 HOURS WERE IN THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER MAKE AND MODEL. HE HAD ALSO GIVEN 20 HOURS OF HELICOPTER FLIGHT INSTRUCTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| 2 Jul 1992 | Schweizer 269D | Watkins Glen, New York, United States | Schweitzer Aircraft Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Aug 1992 | Schweizer 269C | Pacific Ocean | Ching Fong Fisheries Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1992 | Schweizer 269C | London, Ohio, United States | Steve A. Skilken | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft C-23 | Fullerton, California, United States | Eldon R. Howe | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 150 | San Jose, California, United States | Veda Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 182N | San Ardo, California, United States | Soil Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Grumman G-164B | Dixon, California, United States | Sunrise Duster, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | Apple Valley, California, United States | Chester Waite | Serious injuries | - |