Schweizer 269C-1 accident near Waco, Texas, July 7, 2002
On July 7, 2002 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 (helicopter), registered N61439, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waco, Texas. 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 partial loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the pilot's inadequate landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2002 · about 11:30 pm local time · cases in 2002
- Place
- Waco, Texas · 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
- N61439 · registry record · serial 0009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb, while climbing through an estimated altitude of approximately 200 feet above the ground, the engine "sputtered" a few times, and then cleared itself. After the engine "sputtered" a second time, the pilot initiated an autorotation with a 180-degree turn. The pilot added that during the turn, the airspeed decreased and he lowered the nose of the helicopter to attempt to regain the airspeed. The helicopter landed hard in a slight nose low attitude and slid for about 50 feet. The toes of the landing gear skids dug into the soft ground and the helicopter nosed over, coming to rest on its right side. No anomalies were found with the engine that could have prevented normal operation.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 162 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 18, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Waco TX at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 10:25 pm from ACT, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N61439 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer 269 300 series helicopters 211 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schweizer 1,186 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 1,070 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,986 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW02LA201.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.