Schweizer 269C N7511E

Summary

On 12 August 1995 at about 23:04 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N7511E was involved in an accident near Baltimore, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 1995 at 23:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Coordinates

39.3801, -76.5497

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C

Registration

N7511E

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC95TA190

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance which resulted in an inflight collision with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The police helicopter, along with ground units, was in pursuit of a suspect traveling on a dirt bike. The pursuit proceeded eastbound into a park and according to the pilot, he tried to fly ahead of the suspect. The pilot reported that he descended and turned south. He then decided to regain altitude, at which time, he heard or felt a vibration or thud; the next thing he remembers is being on the ground inverted. An observer aboard the helicopter reported the pilot, in a unsuccessful attempt to get ahead of the suspect, descended to about treetop height, leveled the helicopter, and then began to climb. He felt a vibration rumble through the helicopter followed by ground impact. Examination of the accident site revealed the helicopter came to rest on its left side with a separated 4 feet section of tailboom section located about 125 feet away. Examination of the aircraft did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction of the main rotor, tail rotor, drive system, flight controls, fuselage or engine. The engine was tested and operated at 3150 rpm for about 20 minutes at 25 inches of manifold pressure. Examination of the tailboom fracture surface revealed evidence of overstress and no evidence of pre-existing cracking was noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.