# NTSB FTW96LA095: Schweizer 269C, N3623T, San Ygnacio, TX, January 12, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 12, 1996, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: San Ygnacio, TX
- Coordinates: 27.129295, -99.330513 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1293&lon=-99.3305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 3, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19742
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19742/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA095

## Probable cause

Failure of the rotor drive system clutch assembly (separation of the swedge ball from the end of the clutch control cable), which resulted in disengagement of the rotor drive system, while the helicopter was in lateral movement at low altitude.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - rotor drive system,clutch assembly - failure (cause)
  - rotor drive system - disengaged (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
  - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command
- Roll over, emergency landing

## Analysis

While herding cattle, the helicopter was moving laterally at about 70 feet out of ground effect, when the pilot heard a loud 'bang.'  He said he applied anti-torque pedal to 'straighten' the helicopter with the flight path, but the helicopter did not respond to pedal inputs. The engine produced high RPM, but the tail rotor and main rotor RPM decreased. The pilot initiated an autorotation and landed on both skids. During touchdown with lateral movement, the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its side. Inspection of the helicopter revealed that the swedged ball on the end of the clutch control cable had separated, which allowed the rotor drive system clutch assembly to disengage.

## Factual narrative

On January 12, 1996, at 0930 central standard time, a Schweizer 269C, N3623T, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near San Ygnacio, Texas.  The commercial helicopter pilot and his passenger were not injured.  The aircraft was registered to and operated by Smith Helicopters under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  The flight originated from a private airstrip near San Ygnacio, Texas, at 0900.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he heard a loud "bang" while hovering sideways at approximately 12 MPH at 70 feet out of ground effect.  He responded by applying the right anti torque pedal to straighten the helicopter, however the helicopter did not respond to pedal inputs.  According to the pilot, the engine produced high RPM, but the tail rotor and main rotor RPM decreased.  The pilot initiated an autorotation.  The pilot further reported that, during touchdown with lateral movement, the helicopter rolled over coming to rest on its right side.  The tail boom, the engine mount, and the skids sustained substantial damage, and the tail rotor separated from the helicopter.

Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the swedged ball on the end of the clutch control cable had separated, which allowed the rotor drive system's clutch assembly to disengage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3623T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3623T-2013-04-16), registration cancelled 2013-04-16, S/N S1567, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schweizer 269C
- Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: S1567
- Airframe hours: 2269
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Smith Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 14, 1995, 37 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,699 total, 9,499 in this make and model, 14,699 as pilot in command, 186 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LRD, 40 nm away

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.