Schweizer 269C accident near Kansas City, Missouri, December 2, 1992
On December 2, 1992 at about 2:51 am local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N640KC, was destroyed in an accident near Kansas City, Missouri. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISJUDGING THE DISTANCE DURING THE AUTOROTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1992 · about 2:51 am local time
- Place
- Kansas City, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N640KC · registry record · serial S1474
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A ROUTINE NIGHT PATROL THE POLICE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF THE LARGE CLEVIS PIN IN THE CLUTCH CONTROL SPRING ASSEMBLY. THE LOSS OF THE SPRING ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED THE POWERPLANT FROM THE ROTOR SYSTEM. THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION. THE TERRAIN UNDERLYING THE LANDING ATTEMPT WAS A RAVINE WITH HIGH TREES. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO JUDGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE HELICOPTER AND THE GROUND TO SUCCESSFULLY EFFECT AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,174 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 30, 1992; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Board Of Police Commissioners
The flight
- Destination: 3MO1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:05 am from MCI, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.