Schweizer 269C accident near Grand Forks, North Dakota, May 5, 1993
On May 5, 1993 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N7504D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Forks, North Dakota (Sky Ranch airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF COLLECTIVE IN RECOVERING FROM A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO GROUND RESONANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1993 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Forks, North Dakota · Sky Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7504D · registry record · serial 7504D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE PILOT STATED HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND CENTERED THE CYCLIC IN ORDER TO STOP A GROUND RUN DURING THE LANDING. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE PILOT BROUGHT THE CYCLIC BACK TO CENTER, ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE AND VERIFIED THAT THE COLLECTIVE WAS LOWERED. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO SHAKE WITH THE BLADES STRIKING THE GROUND. THE SADDLE FUEL TANK SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER AND A FIRE WAS INITIATED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE HELICOPTER PRIOR TO ITS BEING CONSUMED BY FIRE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF HELICOPTER AND ITS COMPONENTS NOT DESTROYED IN THE FIRE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ACCIDENT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 172 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,930 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 3, 1993; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-S1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,500 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from GFK, 4 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.
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.