Schweizer 269C accident near Collinsville, CA
On January 4, 2003, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Collinsville, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 4, 2003
- Place
- Collinsville, CA
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.068°N, 121.834°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030116X00078
Official records · LAX03FA060
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 4, 2003, about 1532 Pacific standard time, a Schweizer 269C, N98TH, descended into terrain in a marsh area of the Sacramento River Delta near Collinsville, California. The helicopter was operated by the airline transport rated pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight that departed from the Concord, California, airport about 1430. No flight plan was filed. Two witnesses in a boat observed the helicopter flying about 500 feet above the terrain and water. One reported seeing it in normal straight and level flight while over the water, and the engine sounded "tinny." The helicopter turned toward land, the engine sound became quiet, and it descended rapidly to the ground. The other witness reported that his attention was drawn to the helicopter when he heard a "pop" followed by a grinding noise. He noticed that the rotors were slowing down as the helicopter dropped while in a left-hand turn or rotation. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a airline transport pilot certificate, he had private privileges for helicopters, and held a certified flight instructor certificate for airplane single and multiengine land airplanes. He was type rated for Cessna 500 series airplanes. His last recorded third-class flight physical occurred on May 14, 2001, and he was provided an exemption by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Medical Advisory panel for a two vessel heart by-pass operation
Probable cause
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain main rotor rpm during the subsequent autorotation. A factor in the accident was the unsuitable nature of the terrain for a forced landing.
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Browse: California · Schweizer aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
