Schweizer 269C accident near Hebron, Nebraska, April 8, 1994
On April 8, 1994 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N100LU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hebron, Nebraska (Hebron Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS DURING AERIAL TAXI.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1994 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hebron, Nebraska · Hebron Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N100LU · registry record · serial S1546
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER FOR TAKEOFF AFTER REFUELING ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED AND BECAME ENTANGLED IN AN AIRPORT WINDSOCK. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND, THE LEFT SKID COLLAPSED, AND THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST UPRIGHT.
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: student
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 390 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 1, 1993; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-E1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SWT Seward NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from GRI, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI94LA129.