Schweizer 269C N290R

Summary

On 18 September 2015 at about 15:15 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N290R was involved in an accident near Forest Grove, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 September 2015 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Forest Grove, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.5397, -123.1142

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C

Registration

N290R

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1991

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Forest Grove → Forest Grove

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR15LA261

1 person had minor injuries.

A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that, during low-altitude cruise while conducting a positioning flight and with the helicopter about 40 knots and 55 ft above ground level, the engine lost power, and the helicopter began to lose altitude. During the subsequent autorotation, the helicopter struck some wires near the ground, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. The helicopter came to rest on its left side nearly inverted. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Further, the engine was test run at a low-power setting with no anomalies noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.