Schweizer 269C accident near Springfield, Tennessee, April 22, 2023
On April 22, 2023 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2008 Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N789LH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Springfield, Tennessee. 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
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2023 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C UNDESIGNAT, built 2008 · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N789LH · registry record · serial S1911
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the instructional flight was airborne for slightly more than an hour, the helicopter began descending slightly followed by repetitive low main rotor rpm warnings. The student corrected after the first two warnings, but did not correct after the third. The flight instructor took over the controls and rolled the throttle slightly off, then opened it all the way to the stop, recovering the engine rpm. The flight instructor then initiated a precautionary landing and turned toward an open field. During the descent, when operating in the shaded area of the height velocity diagram (between 100 and 200 ft above the ground and 40 knots airspeed ), the low main rotor rpm again sounded. Knowing the helicopter was flying in the shaded area of the height velocity diagram, the flight instructor nosed the helicopter over to increase airspeed and entered an autorotation. About 40 to 50 ft above ground level (agl), he started a slight deceleration though the helicopter was in a near-vertical descent. He leveled the helicopter at a height of about 10 to 20 ft agl while rapidly approaching the ground. He applied collective to cushion the landing but landed hard, damaging all main rotor blades and the tail boom. Following the accident, the engine was started twice and operated to partial power (due to the main rotor blade damage), with no anomalies noted. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined from the available evidence.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Powerplant parameters › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,900 hours in all
- Last flight review: February 3, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 210 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,196 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 4, 2023; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Highland Rim Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from KJWN, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KJWN 221750Z 25012G17KT 10SM FEW055 SCT070 19/03 A2993=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2025. 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, 16 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of NTSB Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Dispatch Document for Previous Flight | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 29 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.