# NTSB SEA04LA146: Schweizer 269C, N62126, Homedale, ID, July 26, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 2004, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Homedale, ID - Coordinates: 43.614723, -116.921386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6147&lon=-116.9214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, Boise FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59741 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59741/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA146 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason while maneuvering at low altitude, 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, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, emergency landing - rotor rpm - not available, pilot in command - misc rotorcraft,main rotor/tail boom contact ## Analysis The helicopter was conducting corn pollination operations. The pilot reported that he experienced an engine failure while executing a turn to reverse direction. He further reported that there was a loss of main rotor RPM, and although the pilot attempted to increase rotor RPM by lowering the collective and rolling the throttle "into the overtravel spring," he was unsuccessful in recovering from the low RPM condition. The helicopter landed hard, and the main rotor blades severed the helicopter's tail boom. Initial examination of the engine revealed low compression readings on the cylinders. Partial disassembly of the engine indicated that the low compression was due to loose carbon deposits found on the seating surface of the valves and seats. The carbon was most likely knocked loose during the impact. No other anomalies were noted during the engine examination, and no signatures or conditions were observed consistent with any pre-mishap mechanical malfunction. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2004, approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N62126, sustained substantial damage when it landed hard following a loss of engine power while conducting corn pollination operations near Homedale, Idaho. The commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter was being operated by Silverhawk Aviation LLC of Caldwell, Idaho, under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from the Caldwell Industrial Airport approximately 0900. The pilot reported that he experienced an engine failure while executing a turn to reverse direction. He further reported that there was a loss of main rotor RPM, and although the pilot attempted to increase rotor RPM by lowering the collective and rolling the throttle "into the overtravel spring," he was unsuccessful in recovering from the low RPM condition. According to the pilot, he set up to land and was able to "land and keep it on the skids. However due to the drooped condition, the aircraft was destroyed." An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that the main rotor blades had contacted and severed the helicopter's tail boom. According to the operator, the Lycoming HIO-360-D1A engine had accumulated 810.1 hours since major overhaul and 55.9 hours since its most recent 100 hour inspection on July 13, 2004. The operator recovered the helicopter to their facility in Caldwell, where the engine was examined under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The examination revealed low compression readings on all four cylinders. Two cylinders indicated 10/80 pounds, one indicated 25/80 pounds, and one indicated 30/80 pounds during a differential compression test. The FAA inspector did not note any other discrepancies with the engine during the examination. At the request of the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the operator removed the engine from the helicopter. On September 9, 2004, under the supervision of an NTSB investigator, the engine was partially disassembled in order to determine the reason for the low compression readings on the cylinders. The disassembly revealed loose carbon deposits on the seating surface of the valves and seats. No other anomalies were noted during the examination, and no signatures or conditions were observed consistent with any pre-mishap mechanical malfunction. On October 20, 2004, under the supervision of the NTSB IIC, the fuel injection servo was bench tested and partially disassembled at the facilities of Precision Airmotive Corporation in Marysville, Washington. No discrepancies that would have contributed to a loss of engine power were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62126](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62126-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N S1440 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer 269C - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: S1440 - Airframe hours: 3928 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Silverhawk Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Phoenix Investments LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 13, 2004, 56 hours before - Departed: EUL, Caldwell, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 30, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 3,400 total, 2,900 in this make and model, 3,250 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: EUL, 13 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 20040726017869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040726017869A), Jul 26, 2004: Hughes 269C, Homedale, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot lost engine power at low altitude during corn pollination operations and executed an emergency landing, causing substantial damage to aircraft.… 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.