CHI94LA129

Factual narrative

On April 8, 1994, at 1730 hours central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N100LU, operated as a training helicopter by Silver Hawk Aviation of Lincoln, Nebraska, contacted a wind sock with its tail rotor at the Hebron Municipal Airport, Hebron, Nebraska. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The student solo pilot suffered minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, winds were 20 knots gusting to 30 knots, and no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, had originated from Seward, Nebraska, and was departing Hebron on a return leg of a student solo cross country. The pilot was repositioning the helicopter for departure after refueling. While hovering backwards, the tail rotor became entangled in a windsock adjacent to the ramp, a loss of control occurred, and the main and tail rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter came to rest upright with one skid collapsed and the engine was secured by the pilot. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS REPOSITIONING THE HELICOPTER FOR TAKEOFF AFTER REFUELING ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED AND BECAME ENTANGLED IN AN AIRPORT WINDSOCK. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND, THE LEFT SKID COLLAPSED, AND THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12