Incident Overview
On February 9, 2025, a Schweizer Aircraft Corporation HU 269C helicopter crashed into a wooded area near Greding-Obermässing, Germany. The accident resulted in the deaths of both occupants: the pilot and a flight instructor. The aircraft was destroyed, and significant damage to the surrounding forest floor occurred.
Flight Details and Sequence of Events
The helicopter departed from Heliport Dippenricht at approximately 13:00 local time, heading south. The pilot, who had not flown in several months, was accompanied by a flight instructor for training purposes. Prior to this flight, the pilot had served as a passenger on a short test flight.
Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying at low altitude over a forest. One witness described the aircraft losing altitude and diving into the trees after a brief moment of instability. Another witness heard the engine stop abruptly before the crash impact. The helicopter struck the treetops on the eastern slope of Hofberg, northwest of Greding-Obermässing.
Aircraft and Personnel Information
The involved aircraft was a 1990 model HU 269C with serial number S 1451. It had approximately 5,110 total flight hours at the time of the accident. The pilot held a Private Pilot License for helicopters (PPL(H)) issued in 2022 and had about 130 hours of helicopter experience. The flight instructor was 74 years old, holding a PPL(H) since 1989, with approximately 1,686 total hours, including 628 on the HU 269 type.
Investigation Findings
The German Federal Bureau for Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) identified the probable cause as an attempted emergency landing. The helicopter likely collided with treetops due to high vegetation in the forest area. The aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, as these were not mandatory under applicable regulations at the time.