Schweizer 300C accident near Kansas City, Missouri, July 28, 1995
On July 28, 1995 at about 4:50 am local time, a Schweizer 300C (helicopter), registered N643KC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kansas City, Missouri (Kansas City Downtown airport). It was a public-use 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
ground resonance as a result of improper servicing of the main landing gear dampers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1995 · about 4:50 am local time
- Place
- Kansas City, Missouri · Kansas City Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 300C
- Registration
- N643KC · no longer on the register · serial S-1633
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he made a normal, smooth landing. He said the helicopter had been on the ground about 5 to 6 seconds and that he had reduced the engine rpm back between 2700 and 2800 RPM's, when he noticed a vibration in the helicopter. The pilot said he rolled in the throttle to 3100 rpm and attempted to get the helicopter into a hover. He reported that the vibrations were severe, and about one second later, the left skid collapsed and the main rotor contacted the tailboom. He secured and evacuated the helicopter after all motion had stopped. Tests revealed that the charge pressure for all four landing gear dampers was lower than that specified by the maintenance instructions. The maintenance instructions warned that improper shock strut pressure levels may result in ground resonance and destruction of the helicopter. Examination of the main rotor head dampers revealed no evidence of preexisting cracks or fatigue.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 202 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 172 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,547 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 11, 1995; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 am from MKC
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.