Schweizer 269C accident near Newberg, OR

On July 2, 2015, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Newberg, OR. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

July 2, 2015

Place

Newberg, OR

Aircraft

Schweizer 269C · Helicopter

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

45.329°N, 123.070°W

NTSB ID

20150702X24434

Official records · WPR15FA205

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

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 1, 2015, about 2215 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N2096W, was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire as a result of a hard landing during an emergency autorotation near the Chelaham Airpark (17S), Newberg, Oregon. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot received fatal injuries. The helicopter was owned by Precision Flight Training Incorporated, of Newberg, and operated by Precision Aviation Training, LLC, also of Newberg. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local instructional flight was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The operator reported the flight departed 17S about 2200. During the postaccident investigation, the company's Director of Operations revealed to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that the purpose of the instructional flight was for student night orientation. In a statement provided by a mechanic/witness who had worked for the operator for about three years, the witness reported that he observed the helicopter take off about 15 minutes prior to the accident. It then departed to the northwest, and when it was about 500 feet above ground level he heard the engine roll back, followed by the helicopter making an autorotation. The witness stated the he heard the engine rpm increase and the drive belts squeal, then heard the helicopter make a loud thud. The witness opined that he knew the helicopter was in trouble because of how low it wa

Probable cause

The loss of translation/rotational power between the engine and the transmission due to the severe wear of the forward spline portion of the lower coupling drive shaft. The reason for the severe wear of the forward spline could not be definitively determined due to fire damage and the loss of associated components, which were not located during the investigation.

More accidents in OR

• Cessna T207A, Aug 21, 1986
• Piper PA-28-180, Sep 1, 1984
• Piper PA-28RT-201, Mar 12, 1984
• Piper PA 46-310P, Apr 7, 2017
• Cessna 172, Jun 23, 2012

Browse: Oregon · Schweizer aircraft

See it on the map

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