# NTSB WPR20LA190: Schweizer 269C, N202CC, North Las Vegas, NV, June 23, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 23, 2020, 09:35 local (16:35 UTC) - Place: North Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.11861, -115.331108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1186&lon=-115.3311&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101479 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101479/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101479 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA190 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); 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) - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer 269C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=8059502), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction onboard the helicopter were returning to the airport following air work in the training area. At 4,000 ft mean sea level (msl), the instructor initiated a simulated engine failure, and the pilot receiving instruction entered an autorotation. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power and the flight instructor assumed control of the helicopter and landed on desert terrain, after which the helicopter slid forward between 20 and 40 ft. Examination of the helicopter revealed damage that was consistent with the helicopter rocking forward, then aft, and the tail striking the ground. The flight controls were continuous from the cockpit, and sufficient fuel was onboard. A visual examination and subsequent test run of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2020, at 0935 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N202CC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, they were returning to the airport following air work in the training area. At 4,000 ft mean sea level (msl), the instructor initiated a simulated engine failure, and the pilot receiving instruction entered an autorotation. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power and the flight instructor assumed control of the helicopter and landed on desert terrain, after which the helicopter slid forward between 20 and 40 ft. They egressed the helicopter and noted that the tailboom had separated. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the damage was consistent with the helicopter rocking forward, then aft, and the tail striking the ground. The flight controls were continuous from the cockpit and there was sufficient fuel onboard. A visual examination and subsequent test run of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N202CC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N202CC), registered now, S/N S1421, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 269C (Undesignat) - 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: S1421 - Year built: 1989 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: VGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Destination: VGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,250 total, 10 in this make and model - Pilot-rated passenger; age 24; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KVGT, 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 20200623011299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200623011299A), Jun 23, 2020: Schweizer 269C, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed the north Las Vegas airport for a part 61 training flight. After conducting flight training west of Las Vegas, Nevada, the CFI had the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101479. 898 KB in all. - Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14602771&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TAustin%20MOR_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14721500&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement - engine exam (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 721 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14721010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20(FAA)-Rel.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.