Schweizer 269C N36254

Summary

On 31 December 2008 at about 18:30 local time, a Schweizer 269C registered N36254, operated by Emerald Coast Helicopters LLC, was involved in an accident near Panama City, Florida, United States. 3 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

31 December 2008 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Panama City, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Panhandle Helicopter Heliport (0FD1)

Coordinates

30.1097, -85.7139

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C

Registration

N36254

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Emerald Coast Helicopters LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Panama City → Panama City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA120

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's encounter with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during an out-of-ground-effect hover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of a Schweizer 269C helicopter was conducting a non-revenue sightseeing flight, looking for alligators, and he entered an out-of-ground-effect hover at 50-70 feet above ground level. He hovered the helicopter into the wind, which he based on the water conditions. After hovering for about 5 seconds, the pilot pitched forward on the cyclic and raised collective. The helicopter then entered an uncommanded right yaw. The pilot immediately lowered the collective, applied forward cyclic and left anti-torque pedal; however the yaw continued. The helicopter completed at least eight 360-degree turns to the right as he leveled the helicopter and raised the collective. The helicopter subsequently landed in the about 2 feet of water and came to rest upright, without injuries or damage to any property. The pilot believed he experienced a loss of tail rotor authority, and he did not feel any vibration in the anti-torque pedals. He remarked that the nearby trees could have changed the wind direction. The reported wind near the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 310 degrees at 7 knots. Postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.