Schweizer 269C N642KC
18 December 2002 · Los Banos, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 18 December 2002 at about 23:21 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N642KC was involved in an accident near Los Banos, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:21
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Los Banos, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Los Banos (LSN)
- Coordinates
- 37.0631, -120.8694
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C
- Registration
- N642KC
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Los Banos → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX03LA052
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The improper engine overhaul by other maintenance personnel, which resulted in an exhaust valve failure and a total loss of engine power while in maneuvering flight.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot and aircraft maintenance technician were performing a post maintenance test flight when a vibration occurred, followed by a total loss of engine power. The commercial certificated helicopter pilot made a forced landing in a muddy field, during which the helicopter received structural damage. Post accident examination revealed a failed exhaust valve in the number 3 cylinder, and that two exhaust spring seats had been installed, one on top of the other, causing excessive spring/valve pressures. The engine had been overhauled about 1.5 service hours prior to the loss of engine power.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 2002 | Schweizer 269C | Paderborn-Lipsd, Germany | Nautische Leasinggescllachaft fur Soziamanagementl | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Jul 2002 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Concord, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 2002 | Schweizer 269C | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Scottsdale Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Aug 2002 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Andover, New Jersey, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 2002 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Askov, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 2002 | Schweizer 269C | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Rotors of the Rockies | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jul 2002 | Ayres S2R-T34 | Firebaugh, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Nov 2002 | Beechcraft A36TC | San Andreas, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 May 2002 | Sierra RAF 2000 GTX-SE | Lompoc, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Mar 2002 | Trenti RV-4 | Jacumba, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Feb 2002 | Thunder and Colt COLT 120 A | Moreno Valley, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 2002 | Pzl-Bielsko SZD-42-2 JANTAR | Hemet, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |