- Date
- September 27, 1995, 17:11 local (22:11 UTC)
- Place
- Hoover, AL
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N267RWSchweizer 269C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 18, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950927030399A
- Case key
- 3629
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control when he positioned the helicopter in a hover so as to induce a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The flight departed Birmingham airport with a VFR clearance for a local photo shoot. The helicopter was flying above a ridge line and made a right turn into a hover. At this point it began to rotate to the right about the main rotor shaft, and spiraled to the ground. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction, and the helicopter had lost tail rotor effectiveness. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the tail rotor drive shaft had broken in overload.
Factual narrative
On September 27, 1995, about 1711 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N267RW, collided with the ground during an uncontrolled descent from a hover near Hoover, Alabama. The helicopter was operated by Rotor Wing, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the photographic flight. The pilot and his passenger sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Hayden, Alabama, at an unspecified time.
According to the operator, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the helicopter. Witnesses observed the helicopter flying alongside a ridge line. The helicopter slowed, made what was described as a pedal turn to the right, and entered a hover, out of ground effect. As it stopped, the helicopter "rocked laterally," began to rotate about the main rotor shaft, then transitioned into a descending right spiral and impacted the ground. The pilot later stated that he had gotten into a hover and lost tail rotor effectiveness.
The examination of the wreckage revealed that there was fuel on board, in both tanks. Flight control continuity was found to the mast, and the tail rotor drive shaft had snapped. The throttle was closed, magnetos on both, the mixture full rich, the master switch was "off" (turned off by rescue), the fuel valve was on, the clutch was on, and the fuel boost pump was on. Only pages 1 and 2 of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were received.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N267RW
- Reported as
- Schweizer 269C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1351
- Airframe hours
- 978
- Engine
- Lycoming HI0-360D1A, 190 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Rotor Wing, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 12, 1995 · 28 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Hayden, AL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,255 total · 90 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BHM, 11 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.