Schweizer 269C N60TA

Summary

On 11 November 1994 at about 23:40 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N60TA, operated by Pacific Shore Aviation, was involved in an accident near Valencia, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 November 1994 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Valencia, California, United States

Coordinates

34.4105, -118.5608

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C

Registration

N60TA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Pacific Shore Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Van Nuys → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95FA033

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a dirt embankment while performing an undetermined maneuver.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT FLEW TO THE ASSIGNED PRACTICE AREA, PERFORMED UNDETERMINED MANEUVERS, AND CRASHED INTO A DIRT EMBANKMENT ADJACENT TO AN OPEN FIELD. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED A MAIN ROTOR BLADE (MRB) HAD SEVERED THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY PRIOR TO THE HELICOPTER COMING TO FINAL REST. THE MRB, THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLY, THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND THE TAIL STINGER WERE FOUND IN THE FIELD UP TO 147 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE MRB WAS OBSERVED CONED UPWARD AT A 30-DEGREE ANGLE OVER THE OUTBOARD 5-FOOT-LONG PORTION OF ITS SPAN. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND IN THE HEAVILY FIRE DAMAGED WRECKAGE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL FAILURE. STRUCTURAL DEFORMATION TO THE FRAME WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE HELICOPTER HAVING IMPACTED THE EMBANKMENT WHILE DESCENDING WITH FORWARD AIRSPEED. NO GROUND SCAR WAS OBSERVED IN THE SOFT DIRT SURROUNDING THE MAIN WRECKAGE. REVIEW OF THE STUDENT'S RECONSTRUCTED FLIGHT TRAINING RECORDS INDICATED THAT POSSIBLE TRAINING DEFICIENCIES EXISTED IN AREAS INCLUDING RESPONDING TO EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS AND CROSSWIND TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.