Schweizer 269C accident near Kilshanchoe, Ie, April 1, 2009
On April 1, 2009 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered EICZL, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Kilshanchoe. It was an instructional flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
This is under the jurisdiction and control of the Irish government.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2009 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Kilshanchoe, Ireland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- EICZL · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 1, 2009, at 1635 coordinated universal time, a Schweizer 269C, Irish registered EI-CZL, owned and operated by European Helicopter Academy, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a wire-strike near Kilshanchoe, Ireland. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both crew members were fatally injured. The local flight originated from Weston (EIWT), Ireland. The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit investigators reported that the helicopter impacted the ground following a wire strike and was destroyed. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Irish government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Irish government or Ireland Air Accident Investigation Unit. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Department of Transportation - Air Accident Investigation 44 Kildare Street Dublin 2 - Ireland
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Other authority investigated
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: EIWT Weston
- Destination: EIWT Weston
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 pm from EGNS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.