Schweizer 269D accident near Nampa, Idaho, May 3, 2001
On May 3, 2001 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Schweizer 269D (helicopter), registered N2061D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nampa, Idaho (Boise Municipal airport). It was a personal flight 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 compensation for strong, gusty, shifting winds while hovering in ground effect. Factors include a sudden directional change and increase in velocity of the gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2001 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Nampa, Idaho · Boise Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269D · all 269Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2061D · registry record · serial 0034A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in a low hover just prior to initiating taxi, the helicopter encountered a "severe wind" that lifted it further in the air and required the pilot to reverse his slightly left anti-torque input to a full right input. The pilot initially began to transition to forward flight, but changed his mind and "dropped" the collective in order to put the aircraft back on the ground. As he was attempting to land, the helicopter weathervaned into the wind and started drifting backwards toward the fuel island. The pilot then applied forward cyclic, but was unable to arrest the backwards drift in time to keep the tail boom from impacting the gas island light pole.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,130 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 13, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 2001; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20W (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S67 Nampa ID at 11:15 pm
- Destination: TWF Twin Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 20 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
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.