# NTSB NYC89LA179: Schweizer 269C, N75044, Philadelphia, PA, August 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1989, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Philadelphia, PA
- Coordinates: 39.939769, -75.150489 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9398&lon=-75.1505&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 June 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36449
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36449/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA179

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: WATER IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## 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
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SHORLTY AFTER DEPARTING PENNS LANDING HELIPORT AT PIER 38, WHICH WAS 20 FEET ABOVE THE WATER, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE WATER AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. IT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE WATER & THE WATER AND MUD WERE REMOVED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N75044 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: S1287
- Airframe hours: 1343
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Atlantic Leasing Ser.,Inc.
- Registered owner: Atlantic Leasiing Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 1989, 10 hours before
- Destination: UKT, QUAKERTOWN, PA
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,300 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 2,250 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890802026779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890802026779A), Aug 2, 1989: Hughes 269C, Philadelphia, PA, Substantial damage. Lost rotor RPM transferring from hover to forward flight on takeoff. Descended into river. No defects found.

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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