# NTSB CEN09WA240: Schweizer 269C, Kilshanchoe, Ireland, April 1, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: April 1, 2009, 16:35 local (16:35 UTC)
- Place: Kilshanchoe, Ireland
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: Irish AAIB
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09WA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73617/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09WA240

## Probable cause

This is under the jurisdiction and control of the Irish government.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Other authority investigated (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On April 1, 2009, at 1635 coordinated universal time, a Schweizer 269C, Irish registered EI-CZL, owned and operated by European Helicopter Academy, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a wire-strike near Kilshanchoe, Ireland. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both crew members were fatally injured. The local flight originated from Weston (EIWT), Ireland. The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit investigators reported that the helicopter impacted the ground following a wire strike and was destroyed. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Irish government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Irish government or Ireland Air Accident Investigation Unit. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Department of Transportation - Air Accident Investigation 44 Kildare Street Dublin 2 - Ireland

## Factual narrative

On April 1, 2009, at 1635 coordinated universal time, a Schweizer 269C, Irish registered EI-CZL, owned and operated by European Helicopter Academy, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a wire-strike near Kilshanchoe, Ireland. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both crewmembers were fatally injured. The local flight originated from Weston (EIWT), Ireland. The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit investigators reported that the helicopter impacted the ground following a wire strike and was destroyed. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Irish government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Irish government or Ireland Air Accident Investigation Unit. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Department of Transportation - Air Accident Investigation 44 Kildare Street Dublin 2 - Ireland

## Aircraft

- Registration: EI-CZL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C
- Category: Helicopter
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Registered owner: European Helicopter Academy
- Departed: EIWT, Weston
- Destination: EIWT, Weston
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: EGNS

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.

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