Schweizer 269C accident near Asheville, North Carolina, May 24, 2012
On May 24, 2012 at about 7:03 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N7505Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Asheville, North Carolina (Asheville Regional Airport). It was an instructional 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 use of an aftermarket skid shoe, which resulted in the skid shoe becoming caught on a runway centerline light during the run-on landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2012 · about 7:03 pm local time
- Place
- Asheville, North Carolina · Asheville Regional 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
- N7505Y · no longer on the register · serial S1300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was demonstrating a run-on landing during a flight review. The pilot conducted the approach for landing about 40 knots, and touched down left of the runway centerline on both skids. As he lowered the collective, the helicopter's right center skid shoe contacted a runway centerline light, which sheared off the right skid and its support arms. The pilot raised the collective, raised the helicopter to a hover, and turned toward the taxiway. Shortly after, the engine and rotor rpm began to drop, and the pilot opened the throttle and lowered the collective, setting the helicopter onto the left skid. The helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. According to a representative from the helicopter’s type certificate holder, the skid shoes installed on the make and model of the accident helicopter at the time of manufacture were comprised of a single piece of steel that conformed tightly to the skid. The skid shoes observed on the accident helicopter were constructed from a flat metal plate attached to the skid by two brackets, resulting in a small gap between the skid shoe and the skid, which would have allowed the skid shoe to become caught on raised objects on the ground. Review of both the helicopter’s maintenance logbook and FAA airworthiness records did not reveal any entries relating to replacement of the skid shoes.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Roll over during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Aux gear (tail/rotorcrft skid) › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 290 hours in all; 118 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 118 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 28, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,716 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wolf Tree Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: AVL Asheville NC at 6:10 pm
- Destination: AVL Asheville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from AVL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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 N7505Y 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.