# NTSB ERA22LA290: Schweizer 300 C, N2158T, Boonville, NC, June 23, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 23, 2022, 10:55 local (14:55 UTC) - Place: Boonville, NC - Coordinates: 36.26025, -80.71911 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2602&lon=-80.7191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105374 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105374/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105374 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA290 ## Probable cause The helicopter’s impact with a non-biological object, which resulted in substantial damage to a main rotor blade. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was at an enroute altitude of 1,500 ft mean sea level (500 ft above ground level), tuning a radio to the destination frequency, when he looked up there was a “drone hovering” in the path of the helicopter. He reported that it struck the main rotor disk at the 2 o’clock position and it “disintegrated.” The pilot evaluated the helicopter for vibrations or damage and elected to return to the departure airport, which was 3.5 miles away. He subsequently landed the helicopter without issue and during the postflight examination, he noted substantial damage to one of the main rotor blades. A sample was taken at the site of the main rotor blade damage and tested negative for bird DNA. A search for the unmanned aerial system was performed, however, no device was located. No Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) authorizations were requested for the area at the time of the accident. Additionally, no operational waivers had been filed with the Federal Aviation Administration for unmanned aerial system operations in the area at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2158T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2158T), registered now, S/N S1913, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 300 C - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360-D1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-d1a) (registry code 41893, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: S1913 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: INT, Winston Salem, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ZEF, Elkin Muni, runway 7/25, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 11,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: UKF, 15.5 nm away - METAR: SA 23/06/2022 15:35-> METAR KUKF 231535Z AUTO 13004KT 10SM CLR 26/20 A2997 RMK AO2= ## 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 20220623010981A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220623010981A), Jun 23, 2022: Schweizer 269C, Elkin, NC, Substantial damage. At 1055AM on June 23 2022 aircraft was at a 1500 MSL (500-600) AGL 3.5 Ese of kzef. 36.26N/80.72W. 1,037FT gnd elev. After departure the aircraft impacted a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105374. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14226589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA290%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14229732&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA290-Rel.pdf - Dna test results (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DNA%20test%20results_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - no UAS operations requests to FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273761&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20LA290%20LAANC%20results-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14588564&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20FAA%20Inspector-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.