# NTSB ERA10CA010: Schweizer 269C-1, N1835E, Lewiston, ME, October 8, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 8, 2009, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Lewiston, ME
- Coordinates: 44.080554, -70.472503 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0806&lon=-70.4725&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74872/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74872
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA010

## Probable cause

The loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) resulting from hovering the helicopter in a tailwind.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C-1, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8059504), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of a helicopter was conducting a non-revenue sightseeing flight for one passenger. After lifting off, the pilot stated that he was hovering eastbound with the winds out of the west. A METAR taken on the airport approximately 5 minutes before the accident indicated the wind was from 340 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 16 knots. The pilot further stated that the helicopter’s nose made a sudden yaw to the right, which could not be corrected with reduction of throttle and full left pedal application. The helicopter touched down after a 270 degree turn, came to rest upright, with substantial damage to the main rotor blades, skids and tailboom. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular (AC) 90-95 titled "Unanticipated Right Yaw in Helicopters", operation of a helicopter with a tailwind as reported by the pilot or with a left quartering tailwind as determined by the METAR and the pilot's statement can result in unanticipated right yaw or loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE).

## Factual narrative

The pilot of a helicopter was conducting a non-revenue sightseeing flight for one passenger. After lifting off, the pilot stated that he was hovering eastbound with the winds out of the west. A METAR taken on the airport approximately 5 minutes before the accident indicated the wind was from 340 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 16 knots. The pilot further stated that the helicopter’s nose made a sudden yaw to the right, which could not be corrected with reduction of throttle and full left pedal application. The helicopter touched down after a 270 degree turn, came to rest upright, with substantial damage to the main rotor blades, skids and tailboom. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular (AC) 90-95 titled "Unanticipated Right Yaw in Helicopters", operation of a helicopter with a tailwind can result in unanticipated right yaw or loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1835E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1835E-2016-08-11), registration cancelled 2016-08-11, S/N 0255, built 2006 (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: 0255
- Airframe hours: 1750
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-G1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 8, 2009
- Departed: KLEW, Lewiston, ME
- Destination: KLEW, Lewiston, ME
- Airport: KLEW, Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airp

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; last flight review January 5, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 41 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: KLEW

## 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 20091008050189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091008050189A), Oct 8, 2009: Schweizer 269C-1, Lewiston, ME, Substantial damage. On October 08, 2009 at approximatley 0845 eastern daylight time a Schweizer 269-C, N1835 piloted by a certificated pilot sustained substanial damage during a…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74872. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 836 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Metars - klew (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARS%20-%20KLEW-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Digital Photographs Provided by FAA. View of the Helicopter at the Accident Site (item 4, .PDF, 792 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321130&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photographs%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20of%20the%20Helicopter%20at%20the%20Accident%20Site-Master.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.

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