Schweizer 269C-1 N61439

Summary

On 7 July 2002 at about 23:30 local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 registered N61439, operated by Heart of Texas Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Waco, Texas, 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.

Date

7 July 2002 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Waco, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.6111, -97.2303

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C-1

Registration

N61439

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Heart of Texas Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waco → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA201

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the pilot's inadequate landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During initial climb, while climbing through an estimated altitude of approximately 200 feet above the ground, the engine "sputtered" a few times, and then cleared itself. After the engine "sputtered" a second time, the pilot initiated an autorotation with a 180-degree turn. The pilot added that during the turn, the airspeed decreased and he lowered the nose of the helicopter to attempt to regain the airspeed. The helicopter landed hard in a slight nose low attitude and slid for about 50 feet. The toes of the landing gear skids dug into the soft ground and the helicopter nosed over, coming to rest on its right side. No anomalies were found with the engine that could have prevented normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.