Schweizer 269C accident near Broomfield, Colorado, June 26, 2005
On June 26, 2005 at about 2:42 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N308BP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado (Jefferseon County Airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm which resulted in a loss of control and an uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2005 · about 2:42 pm local time
- Place
- Broomfield, Colorado · Jefferseon County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N308BP · no longer on the register · serial 1869
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing a normal approach when he noticed a slight "rotor droop." The tail of the helicopter then "snapped left," the helicopter began rotating clockwise, and the LOW ROTOR RPM warning activated. The pilot said he pushed the cyclic forward and applied "up collective" in an attempt to slow the descent rate. He said he was unable to apply further forward cyclic input due to other aircraft operating in the vicinity. The helicopter impacted the ramp in an upright attitude collapsing the right skid further than the left The tail rotor struck the ground and the tail boom cracked.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 238 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 185 as pilot in command; 13 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 729.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 2005; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 1:00 pm
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 16,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from BJC
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.