Schweizer 269C-1 accident near Boxborough, MA

On May 26, 2010, a Schweizer 269C-1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Boxborough, MA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

May 26, 2010

Place

Boxborough, MA

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C-1 · Helicopter

Injuries

1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

42.501°N, 71.541°W

NTSB ID

20100526X84456

Official records · ERA10FA283

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC Plot (courtesy of FAA): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 26, 2010, at 1645 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer 269C-1, N73SJ, operated by Blue Hill Helicopters, was substantially damaged during an impact with terrain in Boxborough, Massachusetts. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) check pilot was fatally injured and the certificated commercial pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The purpose of the flight was for the check pilot, who was an FAA inspector, to conduct a practical examination for the commercial pilot to obtain her flight instructor certificate. According to the commercial pilot, the practical examination began at Laurence Hanscom Field Airport (BED), Bedford, Massachusetts. A designated pilot examiner (DPE) accompanied her while she performed two touchdown autorotation maneuvers. Due to FAA policy, the FAA check pilot was prohibited from performing this maneuver in the helicopter, so he observed them from the ground. Upon completion of the autorotation maneuvers, the DPE exited the helicopter and the FAA check pilot boarded the helicopter. The commercial pilot then departed from the ramp and made a “left” departure toward Minuteman Airfield (6B6), Stow, Massachusetts. She completed a “settling with power” maneuver on the way to 6B6 and then several maneuvers once they arrived there, such as hovering flight, steep and normal approaches. After the maneuvers were completed, the commercial pilot departed from 6B

Probable cause

The FAA inspector's rapid reduction of power which resulted in a loss of engine power and his decision to initiate a turn during the autorotation without sufficient altitude to clear obstacles. Contributing to the accident was the FAA’s lack of comprehensive currency requirements in the make and model helicopter and the inspector's specific limited recent flight experience related to this make and

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.