Schweizer 269C N9488F

Summary

On 13 June 2000 at about 05:07 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N9488F was involved in an accident near Topeka, Kansas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 June 2000 at 05:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Topeka, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

39.0209, -95.7008

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C

Registration

N9488F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

CHI00GA160

2 people died.

the pilot's failure to maintain translational lift while maneuvering, and the loss of tail rotor effectiveness. Factors relating to this accident were the tailwind, low airspeed, low rotor rpm, and the pilot's lack of overall experience in helicopters.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The police helicopter was providing night airborne surveillance support to a Topeka, Kansas, Police ground unit, which had responded to an alarm at a building materials supply store. Witnesses on the ground said the helicopter was heading northwest when it "started spinning" and "the nose went straight down." An examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. The pilot had 148.9 total hours in helicopters, all within the 84 days preceding of the accident. The winds reported at Phillip Billard Airport, 8 miles east of the accident site were 180 degrees at 12 knots. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular (AC) 90-95 states that loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) is a critical, low-speed aerodynamic flight characteristic which can result in an uncommanded rapid yaw rate which does not subside of its own accord and, if not corrected, can result in a loss of aircraft control. Helicopters are subjected to constantly changing wind directions and velocity. The required tail rotor thrust ... is modified by the effects of the wind. If an uncommanded yaw occurs in flight, it may be because the wind reduced the tail rotor effective thrust. "There is greater susceptibility for LTE in right turns. This is especially true during flight at low airspeed since the pilot may not be able to stop rotation." The loss of translational lift is a flight characteristic that can create an LTE conducive environment capable of adversely affecting aircraft controllability. The loss of translational lift results in increased power demand and additional anti-torque requirements. When operating at or near maximum power, this increased power demand could result in a decrease in rotor rpm.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.