Schweizer 269C N6128U
4 June 2011 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 4 June 2011 at about 17:15 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N6128U, operated by Airwork, LLC, was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously 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 17:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.9167, -115.3167
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C
- Registration
- N6128U
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Airwork, LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Las Vegas → Las Vegas
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR11CA250
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain while attempting a transition from hovering flight to forward flight over a mesa in windy, downdraft conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the pilot, while on a sightseeing flight he flew over a mesa and commenced a hover maneuver about 12 feet above a ridge line. When the wind speed increased he attempted to depart the area. The pilot stated that he encountered a strong downdraft in the estimated 20-knot wind. While flying toward lower elevation terrain on the lee side of the mesa in an effort to depart the area, the helicopter's skids impacted rocks and the helicopter rolled over.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun 2011 | Schweizer 269C | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States | University of North Dakota | No injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 2011 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Titusville, Florida, United States | Bristow Academy Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Jan 2011 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Stuart, Florida, United States | Bristow Academy Inc | No injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 2011 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, United States | Hi-Tech Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 2011 | Schweizer 269D | Veghel, Netherlands | Heli Holland Holding B.V. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 2011 | Schweizer 269C | Darlington, Maryland, United States | CVC Helicopter Service | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 2011 | Cessna 210 | Pahrump, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Dec 2011 | Eurocopter France AS350B2 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Sundance Helicopters Inc | Fatal | 5 |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Beechcraft B23 | Jean, Nevada, United States | Desert Oasis Veterinary Enterprises LLC | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Aerovodochody L-29 DELFIN | Reno, Nevada, United States | Ward Raju Mann | No injuries | - |
| 11 Mar 2011 | Robinson R22 BETA II | North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 702 Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 17 Dec 2011 | Cessna 208 | Mesquite, Nevada, United States | Skydive Mesquite | Minor injuries | - |