Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Athens Greece
Tuesady, April 22, 2008 15:00 UTC

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On April 22, 2008, about 1500 local time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, SX-HNB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Athens, Greece. The 2 flight crew members sustained minor injuries. Meteorological conditions at the time of the local flight included winds from the southeast at 16 knots. The temperature was 24 degrees Celsius, and the dew point was 14 degrees Celsius. According to information released by the Greek government, the helicopter was maneuvering when the pilot lowered the collective control and experienced a corresponding decrease in engine and rotor rpm. Attempts to recover the rpm with throttle and collective inputs were unsuccessful. The helicopter experienced a hard landing and was destroyed in a post crash fire. The accident occurred in the vicinity of 37 degrees, 55 minutes north latitude, 23 degrees, 50 minutes east longitude. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Greece. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Ministry of Transport and Communication Hellenic Air Accident Investigation and Aviation Safety Board Ex. American Base Building 221, Helliniko GR 167 01, Athens, Greece Tel: 30 210 99 73 024 Fax: 30 210 99 73 184 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Greece.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/22/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Event City Athens
Event State --
Event Country GREECE
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 375500N
Event Location Longitude 0235000E
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LGAV
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.68
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source Manufacturer (Schweizer)
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 6 2009 1:13PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number NYC08WA262
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model 269C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Athens
Operator State --
Operator Country GR
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GAV
Departure City ATHENS
Departure State --
Departure Country GR
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GAV
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 6 2009 1:12PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --