Schweizer 269C accident near Athens, Gr, April 22, 2008
On April 22, 2008 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered SXHNB, was destroyed in an accident near Athens. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2008 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Athens, Greece · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- SXHNB · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 22, 2008, about 1500 local time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, SX-HNB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Athens, Greece. The 2 flight crew members sustained minor injuries. Meteorological conditions at the time of the local flight included winds from the southeast at 16 knots. The temperature was 24 degrees Celsius, and the dew point was 14 degrees Celsius. According to information released by the Greek government, the helicopter was maneuvering when the pilot lowered the collective control and experienced a corresponding decrease in engine and rotor rpm. Attempts to recover the rpm with throttle and collective inputs were unsuccessful. The helicopter experienced a hard landing and was destroyed in a post crash fire. The accident occurred in the vicinity of 37 degrees, 55 minutes north latitude, 23 degrees, 50 minutes east longitude. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Greece. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Ministry of Transport and Communication Hellenic Air Accident Investigation and Aviation Safety Board Ex. American Base Building 221, Helliniko GR 167 01, Athens, Greece Tel: 30 210 99 73 024 Fax: 30 210 99 73 184 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Greece.
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
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Olympic Aviation, SA
The flight
- Departed from: GAV Athens
- Destination: GAV
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 140° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 3:20 pm from LGAV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.