Casualties unknown

Helicopter Yaws and Crashes During Instructional Hover (N2074K)

Plymouth, MA, US

On March 12, 2007, a Schweizer 269C (registration N2074K) was involved in an aviation accident near Plymouth, MA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During a training flight, a helicopter violently yawed to the right from a hover and crashed before the instructor could intervene. No mechanical issues were found, and the same instructor had a similar accident a month earlier.

Accident Overview

A private pilot, who was rotorcraft-rated, was conducting an instructional flight under the supervision of a flight instructor. While the helicopter was in a hover, the student pilot initiated a clearing pedal turn to the right. After completing approximately a quarter of the turn, the helicopter experienced a sudden and violent yaw to the right, resulting in a crash. The flight instructor was unable to react before the impact.

Post-Accident Examination

Following the accident, a thorough examination of the helicopter was performed. No mechanical anomalies or malfunctions were identified that could have contributed to the loss of control. The helicopter appeared to be in proper working order at the time of the accident.

Instructor's Previous Experience

The flight instructor involved in this accident had been involved in a similar occurrence approximately one month earlier. That incident also involved the same helicopter but with a different student pilot. Details of that prior accident were not provided, but it indicates a pattern of events under similar instructional circumstances.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20070402X00354. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.