# NTSB WPR09LA213: Schweizer 269C, N17YS, Las Vegas, NV, April 22, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 2009, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.273334, -115.369445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2733&lon=-115.3694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73713/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73713 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA213 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power during approach for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the helicopter's engine lost power when they were about 15 feet above the ground while making an approach to land on a pinnacle during an instructional flight. The helicopter hit the ground hard and then rolled down the hill and came to rest on its right side. During the post accident inspection, the engine was removed from the airframe and installed into a dynamometer test stand. The engine started on the first attempt and ran smooth and exhibited no abnormal indications or sounds. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 22, 2009, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N17YS, landed hard following a loss of engine power near Las Vegas, Nevada. Airwork LLC was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot with a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate and the student pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) were not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage when it rolled over. The local instructional flight departed the North Las Vegas airport about 1330. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The CFI reported that while making an approach to land on a pinnacle, the helicopter engine lost power when they were about 15 feet above the ground. The helicopter hit the ground hard and then rolled down the hill and came to rest on its right side. The helicopter was examined on site by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors and recovered for further examination. The FAA inspectors attempted to start the engine, but the engine appeared to be “locked up.” On May 13, 2009, investigators examined the engine at the owner’s hangar facilities at the North Las Vegas airport. During the engine examination, the top spark plugs were removed and noted that they were free of mechanical malfunction at the electrodes. The engine cooling fan was rotated by hand in the direction of normal rotation, at which time copious amounts of engine oil was forced out of the spark plug holes of the number 2 and 4 cylinders. Mechanical continuity was established throughout the engine during the thumb compression check. The magnetos remained secure on their respective mounting flanges. The spark plugs and exhaust system components exhibited a light gray-brown coloration and remained free of oil residue. The oil suction screen remained free of visible contaminates. The engine was transported to the facilities of Nevada Aircraft Engines, Henderson, Nevada, to be run on a dynamometer test stand under the supervision of the investigation team. The engine started on the first attempt, and after a warm-up and magneto check, the engine produced 185 hp at 3,065 rpm. According to the data plate affixed to the engine, the subject engine is rated at 190 hp at 3,200 rpm. The engine ran smooth and exhibited no abnormal indications or sounds. Investigators concluded that engine oil migration into the number 2 and 4 cylinders occurred during the time the helicopter lay resting on its right side. This contributed to a hydraulic lock event that was present when the Federal Aviation Administration inspectors attempted to start the engine. Once the oil was drained from the cylinders during the thumb compression check, the condition was mitigated, which allowed unimpeded full rotation of the crankshaft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17YS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17YS), registered now, S/N S1619, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C - 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: S1619 - Airframe hours: 1789 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airwork LLC - Registered owner: L J Air Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2009 - Departed: VGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Destination: VGT, North Las Vegas, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 27, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,100 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 1,050 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: VGT, 9 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 20090422004549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090422004549A), Apr 22, 2009: Hughes 269C, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On 4/22/2009, PIC [privacy data omitted] was demonstrating a pinnacle approach to his student within the foothills adjacent to the northwest practice… ## Other investigations on N17YS (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 WPR15LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA245), Aug 18, 2015: Schweizer 269C (N17YS), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during a practice autorotation for reasons that could not be determined. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73713. 286 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 250 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Examination Notes (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Examination%20Notes-Master.PDF 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.