Schweizer 269C accident near Schaumburg, Illinois, September 20, 2010
On September 20, 2010 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N34LB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Schaumburg, Illinois (Schaumburg Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight separation of the left aft cluster fitting assembly following the loss of torque on the lock nut due to a manufacturing defect.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2010 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Schaumburg, Illinois · Schaumburg Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N34LB · registry record · serial 780714
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While the helicopter was hovering prior to departure for a routine training flight, a bolt and its associated hardware for the left aft cluster fitting of the tail boom assembly departed the helicopter. Subsequently, the instructor initiated a forced landing and the helicopter came to rest upright. Examination of the bolt and lock nut revealed incomplete threads at the pinch point of the locking stake due to a manufacturing defect. The bolt and lock nut assembly were installed as part of an aft cluster fitting modification that was performed about 4 months and 216 operational hours prior to the accident. As a result of the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive for owners to check the lock nuts.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Fuselage attach fittings sys › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Organizational issues › Development › Manufacture/production › (general) › Manufacturer
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 409 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 275 as pilot in command; 97 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,759 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 10, 2010; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bachman Aero
The flight
- Departed from: 06C Schaumburg IL at 10:20 pm
- Destination: 06C Schaumburg IL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:00 pm from DPA, 8 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N34LB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.