Schweizer 269C accident near Fargo, North Dakota, April 21, 1994
On April 21, 1994 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N3623Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fargo, North Dakota (Hector International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot in command's improper autorotation technique. A factor associated with the accident is the FAA Inspector's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 1994 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- Fargo, North Dakota · Hector International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3623Y · no longer on the register · serial 51601
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS DEMONSTRATING AUTOROTATIONS TO TOUCHDOWN TO AN FAA INSPECTOR AS PART OF A CHECK RIDE FOR A HELICOPTER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE. DURING THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL, THE PILOT SAID HE INADVERTENTLY RAISED THE COLLECTIVE PREMATURELY AND ALLOWED THE MAIN ROTOR SPEED TO DECAY. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FAA INSPECTOR ABOARD KNEW THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS GOING TO LAND SHORT OF THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN SITE. HE SAID THAT HE NORMALLY RESTS HIS HAND ON THE COLLECTIVE DURING PRACTICE AUTOROTATIONS, BUT DID NOT DO SO IN THIS INSTANCE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,872 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 143 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 11,090 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 195 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 15, 1993; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,199 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from FAR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.