Schweizer 269C accident near New Canaan, Connecticut, May 15, 2003
On May 15, 2003 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N109JS, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Canaan, Connecticut. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate annual inspection performed by maintenance facility personnel, which resulted in a failure of a fuel system bellcrank. Factors were the subsequent inadequate inspections by other maintenance personnel and the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2003 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Canaan, Connecticut · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N109JS · registry record · serial 1589
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight, the helicopter experienced a gradual loss of engine power. Although the engine did not lose total power, the partial power loss resulted in a forced landing. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the throttle cable lower bellcrank arm had separated from the fuel control. Further examination revealed that two brass bushings were located at the throttle cable lower bellcrank arm assembly, and were found worn. There were also two steel bushings, which fit underneath the two brass bushings at the lower bellcrank arm assembly, and they were not worn. Review of maintenance records revealed that the helicopter underwent an annual inspection about 5 months prior to the accident. During the inspection, a mechanic noted two throttle cable bushings worn at the lower bellcrank arm. However, he referred to the part number corresponding with the two steel bushings. A company inspector evaluated the discrepancy, and wrote that the bushings were found to be within limits and were re-installed. There was no mention of the brass bushings in the discrepancy list, the maintenance facility purchase order, or the customer invoice. The helicopter had accumulated approximately 75 hours of operation since the annual inspection. A 25-hour inspection and a 50-hour inspection were performed between the annual inspection and the accident. In addition, the pilot had performed multiple "First Flight of the Day" inspections subsequent to the annual inspection. That inspection required a check of the throttle linkage for excessive play and freedom. None of the inspections detected the worn brass bushings.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,900 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command; 1,725 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,336 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 2003; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Centennial Helicopters Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: DXR Danbury CT at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from DXR, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC03LA106.