Schweizer 269C accident near Wichita, Kansas, April 7, 2003
On April 7, 2003 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N8968F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wichita, Kansas (Westport airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The premature lowering of the collective and the improper use of the cyclic during the run-on landing performed by the flight instructor, as well as the main rotor/tail boom contact. Contributing factors were the intentional run-on landing, the grass landing surface and the severed tail boom.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2003 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wichita, Kansas · Westport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8968F · no longer on the register · serial 630212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was substantially damaged during a run-on landing following a practice autorotation. The flight instructor stated that during the landing the helicopter rotated forward "lifting the tailboom into the path of the main-rotor, which severed the tailboom." The aircraft turned to the left approximately 90 degrees and came to a rest. The instructor was demonstrating a full touchdown autorotation to a run-on landing on the grass area adjacent to a paved runway. The dual student reported that the touchdown itself was light and the helicopter did not decelerate very rapidly until the end of the ground run. According to both pilots the grass landing area was smooth, firm and dry. Neither pilot reported any malfunctions with the helicopter or the engine prior to the accident. The pilot's flight manual included a caution stating: "Avoid rapid lowering of collective pitch control after ground contact." The FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook specifies that when conducting a running landing, "due to the increased ground friction when you lower the collective, the helicopter's nose might pitch forward. Exercise caution not to correct this pitching movement with aft cyclic since this movement could result in the rotor making contact with the tailboom."
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,300 hours in all; 1,080 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 16,725 as pilot in command; 7,600 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 615 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 566 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 13, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,796 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 2, 2003; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ICT Wichita KS at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 71K Wichita KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from ICT, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
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.