Schweizer 269C-1 N1835E
8 October 2009 · Lewiston, Maine, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 8 October 2009 at about 13:00 local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 registered N1835E was involved in an accident near Lewiston, Maine, 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 13:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lewiston, Maine, United States
- Nearest airport
- Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airp (KLEW)
- Coordinates
- 44.0806, -70.4725
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C-1
- Registration
- N1835E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lewiston → Lewiston
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA10CA010
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) resulting from hovering the helicopter in a tailwind.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of a helicopter was conducting a non-revenue sightseeing flight for one passenger. After lifting off, the pilot stated that he was hovering eastbound with the winds out of the west. A METAR taken on the airport approximately 5 minutes before the accident indicated the wind was from 340 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 16 knots. The pilot further stated that the helicopter’s nose made a sudden yaw to the right, which could not be corrected with reduction of throttle and full left pedal application. The helicopter touched down after a 270 degree turn, came to rest upright, with substantial damage to the main rotor blades, skids and tailboom. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular (AC) 90-95 titled "Unanticipated Right Yaw in Helicopters", operation of a helicopter with a tailwind as reported by the pilot or with a left quartering tailwind as determined by the METAR and the pilot's statement can result in unanticipated right yaw or loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE).
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 2009 | Schweizer 269C | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Airwork LLC | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 2009 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Titusville, Florida, United States | Bristow Academy Inc | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Naples, Florida, United States | Ocean Helicopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Sep 2009 | Schweizer 269C | Preston, Texas, United States | Longhorn Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 2009 | Schweizer 269C | Kilshanchoe, Ireland | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 22 Sep 2009 | Schweizer 269C | Blackpool, United Kingdom | Heli-Lynx Limited | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun 2009 | Cessna U206F | Islesboro, Maine, United States | Waters Aero Marine Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 2009 | Maule M7 | Turner, Maine, United States | Tamilyn Slowey | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Apr 2009 | Cessna 172 | Greenville, Maine, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 2009 | Boeing A75N1 | Livermore Falls, Maine, United States | Smith Mark D | No injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 2009 | Eurocopter EC130 | Deer Isle, Maine, United States | Highland Helicopter (Isle of Man) Limited | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 2009 | Christopher John P CHR-1 | Norridgewock, Maine, United States | Christopher John P | No injuries | - |