Schweizer 269C-1 accident near Concord, California, July 15, 2002
On July 15, 2002 at about 9:57 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 (helicopter), registered N20256, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, California. 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 main rotor mast support tube failure as a result of fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2002 · about 9:57 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, California · 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
- N20256 · no longer on the register · serial 0099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter sustained an in-flight fracture and separation of the center aft mast support tube. While en route to the practice area, a slight vibration was felt through the airframe. Moments later, the vibration level became severe. The certified flight instructor (CFI) entered an autorotation, and during the descent, he looked back and found the tail rotor was disabled. The autorotation was completed to a field. Post accident metallurgical examination revealed a fracture surface consistent with fatigue.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 470 hours in all; 420 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 407 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 16, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,609.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 19, 2002; 19.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming HO-360-CIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: CCR Concord CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from CCR, 10 miles away
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.