Schweizer 269C accident near Ojai, California, March 19, 2001
On March 19, 2001 at about 2:00 am local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N6123A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ojai, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A 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
- March 19, 2001 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Ojai, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6123A · registry record · serial S1523
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter collided with terrain and rolled over during an autorotation following a loss of engine power. The helicopter was in cruise at 4,700 feet, and the pilot planned to fly along a ridgeline northwest of Lake Casitas. As he approached the mountaintop, the nose suddenly veered to the left. He heard several coughing sounds from the engine. He entered an autorotation, but could not reach the flat mountaintop. The helicopter collided with the terrain and rolled over. The helicopter was examined following recovery from the site. Investigators established control continuity for the throttle, mixture control, collective, and cyclic. The bottom spark plugs were gray in color, which corresponded to normal operation according to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug AV-27 Chart. Investigators started the engine; the oil and fuel pressures indicated within the green operating range on their respective instruments and the engine ran smoothly. The engine was accelerated to 2,000 rpm; a smooth drop of 200 rpm was noted when each magneto was individually cycled. Engine shutdown was unremarkable.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 109 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 29 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 10, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,294 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 2, 2001; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from SBA, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.