Schweizer 269C accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan, October 26, 2003
On October 26, 2003 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N191GC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan (Ann Arbor Muni 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 loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Weather conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice and a roadway were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2003 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ann Arbor, Michigan · Ann Arbor Muni · 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
- N191GC · registry record · serial 0026
- 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 hard landing following a loss of engine power and subsequent autorotation. The flight instructor reported that shortly after takeoff, within two miles of the departure airport, the helicopter suddenly yawed to the left and the engine began to uncontrollably increase and decrease speed. He noted that it sounded as if the throttle was being rolled on and off. He added that no warning lights were illuminated. The instructor reported that he took control of the heliopter at that time. He stated that he instructed the dual student to apply carburetor heat. However, the engine continued to rev and was "making a popping sound, like it was backfiring." He noted a drop in rotor speed, so he elected to initiate an autorotation. He estimated their altitude was 500 feet above ground level at that point. "The safest spot I could see was a paved road in a subdivision; we struck the ground hard damaging the helicopter," according to the instructor. A post-accident inspection revealed no anomalies. The engine was subsequently removed and torn down. No abnormalities were found during the disassembly and examination. Weather conditions recorded at the departure airport, approximately 20 minutes after the accident, included a temperature of 9 degrees Celcius and dew point of 1 degree Celcius. Data concerning the probability of carburetor icing was obtained from Transport Canada. The conditions bordered regions of serious icing at any power setting and moderate icing at cruise power.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 244 hours in all; 136 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 147 as pilot in command; 3 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,238 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 2003; 38.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARB Ann Arbor MI at 7:30 pm
- Destination: Ann Arbor MI
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from ARB, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.