# NTSB CEN25LA107: Schweizer 269C-1, N2027T, Alvord, TX, February 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 28, 2025, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Alvord, TX - Coordinates: 33.387013, -97.7317 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3870&lon=-97.7317&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 19, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTX FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199790 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199790/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199790 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA107 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for a reason that could not be determined. ## 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 · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=8059504), [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: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that all pre-flight and pre-takeoff checks were satisfactory with no deficiencies noted. He proceeded to take off and when he was about ½ mile away from his departure point, at 200 ft above the ground, the helicopter’s engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot entered an autorotation and during the forced landing to a pasture, the skid caught the uneven ground and snapped. The helicopter rolled forward and came to rest inverted. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor, fuselage, and tailboom. A postaccident examination of the fuel system revealed fuel in the fuel tank and no evidence of fuel blockage or fuel leak. The engine was run on the airframe with the existing fuel system and fuel present in the fuel tank. The engine started and ran for several minutes. No mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operations of the engine. Investigators were unable to determine the reason for the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2025, about 1600 central standard time, a Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Alvord, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the preflight inspection, start-up, and warm-up were normal with no problems noted. He said that he lifted the helicopter off the ground into a hover and everything was still normal. He then proceeded with a takeoff which continued for about 3,000 ft while accelerating and gaining altitude. He then made a left turn toward his intended destination. Just as he completed the turn, the engine stopped producing all power without warning. The helicopter was about 200 ft. above ground level (agl) and at 40 kts when the power loss occurred. He entered an autorotation and during the flare from the autorotation to a pasture, the skid caught the uneven ground and snapped. The helicopter rolled forward and came to rest inverted. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor, fuselage, and tailboom. Postaccident examination was conducted which included running the engine on the airframe using fuel that remained in the helicopter’s fuel tank. The postaccident examination of the fuel system revealed fuel in the fuel tank and no evidence of fuel blockage or fuel leaks. The drive belts were not engaged for the engine test run to prevent rotation of the rotor system. The engine started normally, and the engine was allowed to warm up. Throttle application was smooth but limited since the engine had no load applied to it. During the engine run, no anomalies were noted that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2027T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2027T), registered now, S/N 0318 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C-1 - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1) (registry code 8059504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360-G1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-g1a) (registry code 41898, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0318 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 3337 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-G1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 2024, 5 hours before - Destination: Ponder, TX - Airport: Private Residence - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 3, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KLUD, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KLUD 282355Z AUTO 21004KT 7SM CLR 23/M01 A2994 RMK AO2 T02301015 10244 20211= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250228013759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250228013759A), Feb 28, 2025: Schweizer 269C-1, Alvord, TX, Substantial damage. On February 28, 2025, at approximately 1620 central standard time, a Schweizer 269C-1, lost power and auto rotated into a pasture before flipping over and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199790. 221 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19534348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video of engine testing (item 2, MOV, 192 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19533629&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_0484-Rel.MOV - Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19533890&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 9 pages, 25.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19534725&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maint%20records2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Aircraft examination (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 636 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19534390&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Exam-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.