Schweizer 269C N6129Q
18 July 1997 · Baltimore, Maryland, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 18 July 1997 at about 03:30 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N6129Q, operated by Baltimore Police Department, was involved in an accident near Baltimore, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 03:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.3308, -76.6003
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C
- Registration
- N6129Q
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Baltimore Police Department
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- NYC97GA148
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power which was a result of incomplete and improper engine overhaul by company maintenance personnel. A factor in the accident was the unsuitable forced landing area terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The police pilot was flying the helicopter in a right-hand orbit approximately 500 feet. The pilot heard a loud 'clunk' and experienced an immediate loss of engine power. He entered an autorotation over an urban area, and the helicopter struck a tree and collided with terrain during the descent. Examination of the wreckage revealed the #4 connecting rod protruding from the engine case. The connecting rod bolts were stretched beyond the manufacturer's limits, and valve tappets with incorrect part numbers were installed. The engine records revealed the engine had been overhauled by T.W.Smith Engine Company Inc. approximately 500 flight hours prior to the accident flight. The overhaul records reflected maintenance and inspections performed on components not installed on the accident engine and on parts designated to be discarded and replaced. Examination of the fractured #4 connecting rod revealed '...crack arrest positions and ratchet marks, indicative of fatigue crack progression...' and galling spots on the fatigue origin areas.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 1997 | Schweizer 269C | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | City of Cleveland | No injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 1997 | Schweizer 269C | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1997 | Schweizer 269C | Laredo, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jan 1996 | Schweizer 269C | San Ygnacio, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 1998 | Schweizer 269C | Decker, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1998 | Schweizer 269C | Oshkosh, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 1997 | Piper PA-38-112 | Nanjemoy, Maryland, United States | Joseph Durda | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Feb 1997 | Cessna 150 | Clarksville, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 May 1997 | Piper PA-28-140 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1997 | Cessna 150 | Elkton, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 1997 | Cessna 150F | Bittinger, Maryland, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Jun 1997 | Waco YMF | Ocean City, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |