# NTSB FTW02LA201: Schweizer 269C-1, N61439, Waco, TX, July 7, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2002, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Waco, TX - Coordinates: 31.61111, -97.230278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6111&lon=-97.2303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55137 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55137/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55137 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA201 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the pilot's inadequate landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - Hard landing, emergency landing - altitude - low - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis During initial climb, while climbing through an estimated altitude of approximately 200 feet above the ground, the engine "sputtered" a few times, and then cleared itself. After the engine "sputtered" a second time, the pilot initiated an autorotation with a 180-degree turn. The pilot added that during the turn, the airspeed decreased and he lowered the nose of the helicopter to attempt to regain the airspeed. The helicopter landed hard in a slight nose low attitude and slid for about 50 feet. The toes of the landing gear skids dug into the soft ground and the helicopter nosed over, coming to rest on its right side. No anomalies were found with the engine that could have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2002, at 1830 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter, N61439, was substantially damaged during a hard landing following a partial loss of engine power during initial climb from a private airstrip near Waco, Texas. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The helicopter was owned by the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation of Big Flats, New York, and was being operated by Heart of Texas Helicopters of Waco, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight for which no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from a grass airstrip operated by Heart of Texas Helicopters, at 1820. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to conduct a local orientation flight, which included demonstrating a quick-stop maneuver, a standard straight-in autorotation, and an autorotation with a 180-degree turn. The pilot reported that after taking off to the south, during the initial climb, while climbing through an estimated altitude of approximately 200 feet above the ground, the engine "sputtered" a few times, and then cleared itself. After the engine "sputtered" a second time, the pilot initiated an autorotation with a 180-degree turn in an attempt to return to the runway. The pilot added that during the turn, the airspeed decreased, and he lowered the nose of the helicopter in an attempt to regain the airspeed. The helicopter landed hard in a slight nose low attitude and slid for about 50 feet. The toes of the landing gear skids dug into the soft ground and the helicopter nosed over coming to rest on its right side. The pilot reported that he had accumulated over 1,500 hours, with approximately 600 hours in the same make and model helicopter. An examination of the helicopter, by the operator and a representative of the airframe manufacturer, revealed two of the main rotor blades were separated from the head outboard of the root doublers. The other blade remained attached; however, it was severely bent down. All three main rotor blades showed evidence of ground contact. Flight control continuity was established to the rotor head and the tail rotor. The tailboom was separated from the airframe, with indications of blade strikes. The left landing gear was intact and remained attached. The right landing gear was fractured. The fuel tank contained an undetermined amount of fuel. No discrepancies were found with the engine that would have prevented normal operations. . ## Aircraft - Registration: N61439 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 269C-1 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0009 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Heart of Texas Helicopters - Registered owner: Schweizer Aircraft Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Waco, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 18, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: ACT, 5 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020707014999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020707014999A), Jul 7, 2002: Hughes 269C1, Waco, TX, No damage. (-23) On 07 July, 2002 at about 18:30 LCL a Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter operated by heart of Texas helicopters on a pleasure flight crashed during an attempted… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 29, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55137. 361 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 361 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461151&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.