Schweizer 269C accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, August 18, 2015
On August 18, 2015 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1992 Schweizer 269C (helicopter), registered N17YS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during a practice autorotation for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2015 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 269C, built 1992 · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N17YS · registry record · serial S1619
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, during the instructional flight in the helicopter, he was demonstrating entry procedures for an autorotation with the student pilot following along on the flight controls. The instructor smoothly lowered the collective, applied right pedal, and pulled aft on the cyclic to enter the autorotation. Immediately after entering the maneuver, he heard a change in engine noise and saw that the engine rpm gauge indicated zero. The instructor attempted to restart the engine by pressing the start button several times; however, the starter did not engage. The instructor continued the autorotative descent to the ground and landed hard. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the battery's positive lead was separated from the battery terminal, and the lead exhibited corrosion. When the positive lead was reattached to the battery, and the engine started and operated normally. The reason for the loss of engine power during the autorotation could not be determined.
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
- Autorotation Loss of engine power (total) defining event
- Autorotation Off-field or emergency landing
- Autorotation Hard landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 443 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 367 as pilot in command; 145 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 17, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 366 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 236 as pilot in command; 9 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,805 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 2015; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 SERIE (piston); 1,712 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV at 2:45 pm
- Destination: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from VGT, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N17YS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.