# NTSB LAX95LA098: Schweizer 269C, N7509H, Red Bluff, CA, February 4, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 1995, 20:07 local (Feb 4, 1995, 04:07 UTC) - Place: Red Bluff, CA - Coordinates: 39.919502, -122.28067 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9195&lon=-122.2807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29026 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29026/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA098 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's poor in-flight decision to continue flight into a reduced visibility area, his failure to execute a 180-degree turn in a timely manner, and his failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - flight into adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND DUAL STUDENT DEPARTED IN A HELICOPTER AT NIGHT ON A COMBINATION NIGHT INSTRUCTIONAL/VFR FERRY FLIGHT. THE PILOTS WERE FOLLOWING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED AN AREA OF REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND MADE A 180-DEGREE TURN. HE REPORTED THAT HE ENTERED A DESCENT TO IMPROVE VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE GROUND AND SLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO ABOUT 40 KNOTS. HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE SURFACE OF A RICE PADDY, SLID IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE UNTIL IT ENCOUNTERED UNEVEN TERRAIN, THEN ROLLED OVER. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 1995, at 2007 hours Pacific standard time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N7509H, collided with the terrain about 10 miles south of Red Bluff Airport, Red Bluff, California. The pilots were conducting a combination visual flight rules (VFR) ferry and instructional flight to Modesto, California, and filed a VFR flight plan. The helicopter, operated by Precision Helicopters, Inc., Newberg, Oregon, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot/certified flight instructor (CFI) received serious injuries; the dual student received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Benton Field, Redding, California, at 1908 hours. National Transportation Safety Board investigators interviewed the pilot via a telephone on February 4, 1995, at 0815 hours. The pilot said that he was ferrying the helicopter to Los Angeles, California, and was also providing the passenger/student pilot dual instruction. He said that he continued the night flight because the student needed night flight instruction. The pilot was following automobiles on Interstate Highway 5, southbound, when he encountered extensive fog. He turned the helicopter 180 degrees toward the Red Bluff Airport and, between 2 and 3 minutes later, he lost all visual references. The helicopter subsequently collided with the terrain. He said the helicopter did not experience any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The pilot repeated his telephone statement in the aircraft accident report. He added, however, that the dual student was initially flying the helicopter after it departed Benton Field. The pilot said he assumed the controls when the visibility began to decrease. He also said that he lost all ground visual reference when he executed a descending 180-degree turn. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7509H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1441 - Airframe hours: 295 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Precision Helicopters, Inc - Registered owner: Springer, H. Gaylen & Katherin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 1995, 8 hours before - Departed: O85, REDDING, CA - Destination: MOD, MODESTO, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RBL, Red Bluff Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 600 total, 420 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F ## 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 19950203001159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950203001159A), Feb 3, 1995: Hughes 269C, Red Bluff, CA, Substantial damage. Flew into dense fog following highway. Lost control during descending 180 degree turn. Collided with ground. 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.