Schweizer 269C-1 accident near Andover, New Jersey, August 21, 2002
On August 21, 2002 at about 1:48 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C-1 (helicopter), registered N6147L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Andover, New Jersey (Aeroflex-Andover airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's delayed remedial action to correct the low rotor condition. A factor was the student pilot's improper use of the collective, which created the low rotor condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2002 · about 1:48 pm local time
- Place
- Andover, New Jersey · Aeroflex-Andover · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C-1 · all 269C-1s on the register
- Registration
- N6147L · no longer on the register · serial 55
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot (SP) & flight instructor (FI) were practicing autorotations with a power recovery in a Schweitzer 269C-1. The helicopter struck the runway hard, collapsed the left skid and rolled over on its left side. The SP reported that the main rotor rpm was increasing and he tried to raise the collective. It did not move, and when it did move, it came all the way up, the main rotor blades stalled, and the helicopter hit hard. The FI said the SP raised the collective, and he immediately lowered it, added power, and was unable to prevent a hard landing. The FI reported that the engine responded to his inputs. A check of the flight controls found that the collective and main rotor swash plate operated free and easy, with no evidence of jamming or resistance. An engineering test pilot with Schweitzer reported a momentary pop-up of the collective to full up and back down in less than 1 second would not cause blade stall. Blade stall would require the collective to be held full up for 3 or more seconds. The FI reported that his hand was near the collective, but not on it. No loose items were found in the helicopter that could have restricted movement of the collective.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,700 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 10,309 as pilot in command; 7,387 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 26, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,364 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 2002; 20.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDW Fairfield NJ at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 12N Andover NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 1,981 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from CDW, 22 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.