# NTSB SEA91LA044: Schweizer Hughes 269C, N75070, Princeton, OR, January 19, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 19, 1991, 10:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place: Princeton, OR
- Coordinates: 42.859649, -118.419624 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8596&lon=-118.4196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 7, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41383
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41383/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA044

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO HOVER OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AT A DENSITY ALTITUDE AND GROSS WEIGHT IN TAILWIND WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT EXCEEDED THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE LIMITS.  FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND TAILWIND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS HOVERING OUT OF GND EFFECT IN HIGH ALT MOUNT TERRAIN AND TAILWIND WX CONDITIONS WHEN THE ACFT LOST ROTOR RPM WITH FULL POWER APPLIED. THE ACFT DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AND IMPACTED TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - aircraft performance,helicopter hover performance - exceeded (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75070](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75070), registered now, S/N S1404 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER HUGHES 269C (HUGHES 269)
- 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: S1404
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-DIA 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fredrick R. Teufel
- Registered owner: Fredrick R. Teufel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,764 total, 1,460 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BNO, 60 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 19910119001709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910119001709A), Jan 19, 1991: Hughes 269C, Princeton, OR, Substantial damage. Hovering at 200 AGL in a canyon. Rotor RPM decayed. Descended to ground impact. Strong tailwind downdraft factors.

## Other investigations on N75070 (1)

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.

- [NTSB IAD04LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04LA013), Feb 28, 2004: Schweizer 269C (N75070), Media, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A lack of previous lubrication to the tail rotor drive shaft forward fitting teeth, which resulted in their gradual wear, the eventual slippage of the shaft, and the subsequent loss of tailrotor…

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.