# Accident 20010318003499A: Hughes 269C, Ojai, CA, March 18, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 18, 2001, 18:00 local time
- Place: Ojai, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Location: 34.4750° N, 119.3983° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4750&lon=-119.3983&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6123A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6123A-2002-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer 269C (registry code 8059502, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA121) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010318003499A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON MARCH 18, 2001, ABOUT 1800 HOURS PST, A SCHWEIZER 269C HELICOPTER N6123A, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AND ROLLED OVER NEAR OJAI, CALIFORNIA. SUN AIR AVIATION LLC WAS OPERATING THE HELICOPTER UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA, ABOUT 1640. VISUAL METEOROOLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE PRIMARY WRECKAGE WAS AT 34 DEGREES 28.51 MINUTES NORTH LATITUDE AND 119 DEGREES 23.90 MINUTES WEST LONGITUDE. IN A WTITTEN STATEMENT THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WA SIN CRUISE AT 4,700 FEET, AND PLANNED TO FLY ALONG A RIDGELINE NORTHWEST OF LAKE CASITAS. AS HE APPROACHED THE MOUNTAIN TOP, THE NOSE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE LEFT, AND HE HEARD SEVERAL COUGHING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE. HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION, BUT COULD NOT REACH THE FLAT MOUNTAIN TOP. THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN, HIT TREES, AND ROLLED OVER. HE SECURED THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE, PULLED THE MIXTURE CONTROL OUT AND TURNED THE BATTERY AND IGNITION SWITCH OFF. HE OBSERVEDFUEL LEAKING FROM THE HELICOPTER AS HE AND THE PASSENGERS EXITED THE WRECKAGE. (-23)DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF FROM CLIMB, THE ROTORCRAFT SUDDENLY YAWED LEFT AND THE PILOT HEARD THE ENGINE COUGH.  THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION.  UPON APPROACHING THE SURFACE HE FLARED AND INCREASED COLLETIVE TO CUSHION TOUCH DOWN.  THE NOSE YAWED RIGHT PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN IN THE BUSHES.  ONE PASSENGER EXPERIENCED A MINOR INJURY TO HIS ANKLE.  THIS AIRCRAFT HAS AN ENGINE OVER SPEED GOVERNOR WHICH SOMETIMES REDUCES POWER ABRUPTLY.  DURING LEVEL OFF ACCELERATION FOLLOWING CLIMB  THE RPM WILL INCREASE UNTIL LIMITED BY THE PILOT OR GOVERNOR.  A SUDDEN REDUCTION OF POWER/TORQUE WILL CAUSE LEFT YAW.  THE RIGHT YAW AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AUTOROTATION AS COLLECTIVE IS RAISED INDICATES THE ENGINE WAS STILL PRODUCING POWER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX01LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA121), Mar 19, 2001: Schweizer 269C (N6123A), Ojai, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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