Schweizer 269C-1 accident near San Antonio, Texas, August 11, 2001
On August 11, 2001 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 (helicopter), registered N1234X, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Antonio, Texas (Stinson Municipal 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 loss of engine power while maneuvering for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2001 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Stinson Municipal Airport · 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
- N1234X · no longer on the register · serial 24
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 45 minutes into the flight, the CFI demonstrated a power recovery autorotation. He then allowed his student to perform the maneuver. The CFI informed the student that he would be near the flight controls and advise on what actions to take during the maneuver. After the entry into the autorotation, the CFI checked that the engine and rotor RPMs appeared to be normal. At approximately 10-15 feet, the CFI instructed the student to apply engine power. The engine did not respond to throttle movement so the CFI took the controls, and it appeared that the engine had "failed." The helicopter then landed "hard" and turned 180-degrees. The reason for the loss of power was not determined.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,115 hours in all; 177 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 6,244 as pilot in command; 2,595 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,385 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2001; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Ho-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SSF San Antonio TX at 4:30 pm
- Destination: SSF San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:42 pm from SSF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.