Schweizer 269C accident near Simi Valley, California, July 18, 1992
On July 18, 1992 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N280CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Simi Valley, 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 COMPANY'S MAINTENACE PERSONNEL IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE AIRCRAFT'S IDLE RPM AND THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF OPERATION IS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1992 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Simi Valley, California
- 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
- N280CA · registry record · serial S1497
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND DUAL STUDENT WERE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS THAT WERE TERMINATED WITH POWER RECOVERIES AT A 3-FOOT HOVER. DURING THE SIXTH AUTOROTATIVE APPROACH THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE HARD LANDING SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE HELICOPTER. AN ENGINE OPERATIONAL TEST AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCLOSED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT OPERATE AT IDLE RPM. THE CFI HAD LOGGED 154 TOTAL HELICOPTER FLIGHT HOURS OF WHICH 9 HOURS WERE IN THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER MAKE AND MODEL. HE HAD ALSO GIVEN 20 HOURS OF HELICOPTER FLIGHT INSTRUCTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 695 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 512 as pilot in command; 20 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,210 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 10, 1992; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pacific Shore Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 3:45 pm
- Destination: VNY
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:30 pm from VNY, 11 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.