Pilot Proficiency

On the Record: Schweizer 269C

Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 03:41 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A Schweizer 269C helicopter crashed during a night orientation flight, resulting in two fatalities, after witnesses reported hearing engine anomalies and a high-pitch squealing sound.
The post-accident investigation determined the probable cause was a sudden and complete loss of power between the engine and transmission due to severe wear on the forward spline portion of the lower coupling drive shaft.
Although a loss of lubrication or misalignment was suspected, the exact reason for the severe spline wear could not be definitively determined due to extensive fire damage and unrecovered components.

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Schweizer 269C

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