Schweizer 269C-1 N61466
25 February 2006 · Valencia, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 25 February 2006 at about 21:30 local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 registered N61466, operated by Group 3 Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Valencia, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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 21:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Valencia, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.4250, -118.6300
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C-1
- Registration
- N61466
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Group 3 Aviation, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Van Nuys → Van Nuys
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX06LA123
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from objects.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing primary flight training to his pre-solo student. After departing from the Van Nuys Airport, the CFI proceeded to the Santa Clara River practice area. The helicopter impacted power lines during an undetermined phase of flight over the dry river bed. The power lines had been suspended from poles located north and south of the river bed. Following impact, the helicopter descended about 40 feet until impacting the ground on its right side. The student, who was located in the right seat, was fatally injured. The subsequent examination of the helicopter's airframe and engine assembly did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction. Wire mark striations were noted on a main rotor blade. Following the accident the operator (flight school) issued instructions to its employees regarding the location where off airport flight training was authorized. The accident site area was excluded from the authorized training area.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 2006 | Schweizer 269C | Schererville, Indiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 May 2006 | Schweizer 269C | Kings Park, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 2006 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Van Nuys, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 May 2006 | Schweizer 269C | Boise, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 May 2006 | Schweizer 269C | Lees Summit, Missouri, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 2006 | Schweizer 269C | Denton, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jul 2006 | Beechcraft A36 | Bakersfield, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 2006 | Learjet 55 | Van Nuys, California, United States | Clay Lacy Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 18 Dec 2006 | Beechcraft D95A | Gilroy, California, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 19 Oct 2006 | Boeing 737-790 | Los Angeles, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 2006 | Williams BOWERS FLY BABY-1A | Oakdale, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 2006 | Cessna 152 | Prunedale, California, United States | United Flight Services | Minor injuries | - |