Schweizer 269C accident near Hazelton, Indiana, December 5, 2007
On December 5, 2007 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N75068, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hazelton, Indiana (Snider Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor speed during the intentional autorotation, and his subsequent inability to reduce the descent rate prior to impact. A contributing factor was the intentional autorotation initiated by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 2007 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hazelton, Indiana · Snider Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N75068 · registry record · serial S1323
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initiated an intentional autorotation to a landing site at the destination airport. He recalled that after entering the autorotation, the helicopter drifted and that reaching the intended touchdown point became questionable. The pilot reported that he had intended to add power and continue to the intended landing site, but the helicopter did not seem to respond as expected. The pilot was unable to reduce the descent rate and the helicopter subsequently impacted the ground at the point of intended landing. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies associated with the helicopter.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,050 hours in all; 1,450 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 7,380 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,072 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-O1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EHR Henderson KY at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 0IN1 Hazelton IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 4:04 pm from EVV, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N75068 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.