Schweizer 269C-1 accident near Lewiston, Maine, October 8, 2009
On October 8, 2009 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 (helicopter), registered N1835E, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Lewiston, Maine (Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airp airport). It was a personal 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 loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) resulting from hovering the helicopter in a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2009 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lewiston, Maine · Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C-1 · all 269C-1s on the register
- Registration
- N1835E · no longer on the register · serial 0255
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a helicopter was conducting a non-revenue sightseeing flight for one passenger. After lifting off, the pilot stated that he was hovering eastbound with the winds out of the west. A METAR taken on the airport approximately 5 minutes before the accident indicated the wind was from 340 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 16 knots. The pilot further stated that the helicopter’s nose made a sudden yaw to the right, which could not be corrected with reduction of throttle and full left pedal application. The helicopter touched down after a 270 degree turn, came to rest upright, with substantial damage to the main rotor blades, skids and tailboom. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular (AC) 90-95 titled "Unanticipated Right Yaw in Helicopters", operation of a helicopter with a tailwind as reported by the pilot or with a left quartering tailwind as determined by the METAR and the pilot's statement can result in unanticipated right yaw or loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE).
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,750 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 8, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-G1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLEW Lewiston ME at 1:00 pm
- Destination: KLEW Lewiston ME
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KLEW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N1835E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.