Schweizer 269C accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, February 11, 2012
On February 11, 2012 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N20536, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Las Vegas, Nevada. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the known wind conditions during a hovering maneuver, which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2012 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N20536 · registry record · serial S1818
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an introductory helicopter training flight, the instructor attempted to demonstrate a hovering maneuver around a point on the ground. The wind at the time of the accident was estimated by the instructor to be 15 to 20 knots from the south. During the maneuver, when the helicopter was nearly headed downwind, the instructor lost control of the helicopter and it started to rotate in an uncontrollable right yaw. The instructor reported that the helicopter continued to spin until hitting the ground and rolling over about 300 feet from the initiation of the loss of control. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and main rotor drive system. The reported wind at the time of departure was from 180 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of tail rotor effectiveness during maneuvering (hover) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (hover)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 233 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 170 as pilot in command; 25 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 29, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,109 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 14, 2012; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,946 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airworks Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV at 7:30 pm
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from VGT, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on March 14, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.