Schweizer 269C accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, January 24, 2018
On January 24, 2018 at about 9:56 pm local time, a 2008 Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N3947C, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Downtown Fort Lauderdale 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 partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to a stuck intake valve on the No. 4 cylinder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 2018 · about 9:56 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Downtown Fort Lauderdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C 1, built 2008 · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3947C · registry record · serial 0343
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was departing from a rooftop helipad, and the flight instructor noticed that, during the initial climb, as the helicopter crossed over the rooftop edge, the low rotor rpm horn and light activated. The helicopter then began to descend. The flight instructor lowered the collective and attempted twice to increase the throttle, but his actions did not stop the descent. Subsequently, he performed an autorotation to a street below the helipad and landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor and tailboom. During a postaccident examination and test run of the engine, the engine produced idle power, but the No. 4 cylinder's compression checks were not normal. The No. 4 cylinder intake and exhaust valves were examined, and both displayed a significant amount of carbon deposit buildup on the valve stem. The intake valve was found stuck in its valve guide and was scratched and scarred. The source of the scarring to the intake valve was not determined. Given the signatures observed on the No. 4 cylinder intake valve, it is likely that, during the initial climb, the intake valve became stuck, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
- Loss of lift during initial climb
- Autorotation Hard landing
- Autorotation Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 244 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 631 as pilot in command; 373 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 20, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,297 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-G1A (piston); 2,297 hours total
- Operator: Pelican Flight Training LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: DT1 Fort Lauderdale FL at 9:55 pm
- Destination: HWO Hollywood FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KFLL, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on May 24, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memos for Record (FAA Inspector) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversations (Flight Instructor) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation (Helicopter Mechanic) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Lycoming Service Instructions - Reduce Valve Sticking | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Engine Overhaul Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.