NTSB Identification: FTW04TA076
14 CFR Public Use
Accident occurred Thursday, February 19, 2004 in San Antonio, TX
Aircraft: Schweizer 269D, registration: N255TP
Injuries: 2 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On February 19, 2004, approximately 0245 central standard time, a Schweizer 269D single-engine helicopter, N255TP, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near San Antonio, Texas. The commercial pilot and sole passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the San Antonio Police Department for public use police missions. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The helicopter departed the Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF), near San Antonio, Texas, approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident, and was enroute to a police emergency.
According to the San Antonio Police Department personnel, shortly after the helicopter departed SSF enroute to a police emergency, the pilot noticed a "spike" on the torque gauge. The flight crew then heard a "bang", followed by an aural engine warning horn, and a subsequent loss of engine power. The pilot initiated an autorotation to a vacant grocery store parking lot. During the autorotation, the pilot avoided striking power lines, and the helicopter landed hard on the parking lot surface. The helicopter skidded and came to rest upright in the parking lot.
Examination of the helicopter revealed the skids were spread, the tailboom was punctured and bent, the left horizontal stabilizer was partially separated, one main rotor blade was separated, and both tail rotor blades were separated. The helicopter was recovered for further examination.