Schweizer 269C accident near Pacific Ocean, PO, August 5, 1992
On August 5, 1992 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N36225, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pacific Ocean, PO. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY FAILING TO UNTIE THE FRONT SKID TIEDOWN ROPE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1992 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Pacific Ocean, PO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N36225 · no longer on the register · serial S1592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING A LOCAL FISH SPOTTING FLIGHT FROM A FISHING VESSEL. PRIOR TO DEPARTING HE FAILED TO UNTIE THE RIGHT FRONT SKID TIEDOWN ROPE DURING THE PREFLIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO LIFTOFF WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SKID TIED DOWN. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE FISHING VESSEL'S FLIGHT DECK.
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: 2,255 hours in all; 1,715 in this make and model; 96 in the last 90 days; 62 in the last 30 days; 2,031 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 184 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000; 184 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ching Fong Fisheries INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.