Schweizer 269C accident near Ontario, California, December 11, 2004
On December 11, 2004 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N130JS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ontario, 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
a loss of engine power due to the Designated Pilot Examiner's failure to follow the flight manual procedures and directives regarding throttle settings to be used for practice autorotations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 2004 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ontario, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N130JS · no longer on the register · serial S1571
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter rolled over during an autorotation following a loss of engine power. During a practical flight test examination for a private pilot certificate, the Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) simulated a loss of engine power by retarding the throttle to idle. The student pilot lowered the collective and was performing an autorotation to the ground. The DPE noticed loss of engine noise then detected that the engine had lost power. The student pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine. During the landing sequence, the tail rotor stinger and blades impacted the ground. As the helicopter was sliding to a stop, it veered to the left and rolled over. Examination of the aircraft systems and the engine failed to disclose any abnormality, and an engine operational run test was conducted. After the engine was started, the cockpit mounted oil pressure gauge displayed an oil pressure indication within the normal operating range, and proper operation of the electrical fuel boost pump and engine driven fuel pump were verified. Once the engine was operating at temperature, the throttle was advanced to about 2,500 rpm, at which time the magnetos were checked utilizing the cockpit mounted ignition switch. Both magnetos operated within manufacturer's specifications. The engine ran smoothly during the operational check and exhibited no unusual indications and no fuel or oil leaks. The Rotorcraft Flight Manual for the Schweizer 300C Helicopter Model 269C provides the following procedure for practice autorotations: "Split the needles by lowering the collective while maintaining throttle setting. The throttle correlation will establish a high idle rpm (approximately 2,500 rpm), which will aid in preventing the engine from loading up or stalling during recovery."
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,695.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 2004; 89.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-DIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L67 Rialto CA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from ONT
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.
Other NTSB records under N130JS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.