# NTSB SEA01LA082: Schweizer 269D, N2061D, Nampa, ID, May 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 3, 2001, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Nampa, ID - Coordinates: 43.600444, -116.609977 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6004&lon=-116.6100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Boise FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52196 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52196/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA082 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for strong, gusty, shifting winds while hovering in ground effect. Factors include a sudden directional change and increase in velocity of the gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - in ground effect - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in a low hover just prior to initiating taxi, the helicopter encountered a "severe wind" that lifted it further in the air and required the pilot to reverse his slightly left anti-torque input to a full right input. The pilot initially began to transition to forward flight, but changed his mind and "dropped" the collective in order to put the aircraft back on the ground. As he was attempting to land, the helicopter weathervaned into the wind and started drifting backwards toward the fuel island. The pilot then applied forward cyclic, but was unable to arrest the backwards drift in time to keep the tail boom from impacting the gas island light pole. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 2001, approximately 1715 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer 269D, N2061D, collided with a gas island light pole while hovering at Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa, Idaho. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was hovering over its parking location near the fuel island just prior to initiating taxi for a CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight to Twin Falls, Idaho. The accident occurred in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, he lifted off and was hovering about one foot above the ground while visually clearing the area prior to initiating his taxi to the runway. As he looked out to his right he noticed a "twirl" of dust and small trees that were "laying over." He also noticed that the wind sock seemed to be standing straight out. Soon thereafter the helicopter encountered a "severe wind" that, according to the pilot, lifted the aircraft six feet in the air, and required him to reverse his slightly left anti-torque pedal input to a full right input. His initial reaction was to transition to forward flight, but after initially starting to do so, he "dropped" the collective in an attempt to put the helicopter back on the ground. While he was trying to land, the aircraft weathervaned into the wind and started to drift backwards toward the fuel pump island. At that time, the pilot applied forward cyclic in order to stop the helicopter from moving backwards, but he was unable to arrest the drift prior to the tail boom impacting the fuel island light pole. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2061D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2061D-2007-08-30), registration cancelled 2007-08-30, S/N 0034A, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 269D - Registry model: [Schweizer 269D](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269d) (registry code 8059501) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0034A - Airframe hours: 10 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20W 250 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Keith L. Sigar - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 2001, 10 hours before - Departed: S67, Nampa, ID - Destination: TWF, Twin Falls, ID - Airport: S67, Boise Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 13, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 7,130 total, 2 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 20 knots, gusting 40 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °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 20010503009829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010503009829A), May 3, 2001: Scwzer 269D, Nampa, ID, No damage. (-23)While hovering N2061D in preparation for flight, pilot claims that a gust of wind caused the aircraft to weathercock into the wind. According to him, the… 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.