Schweizer 269C crash near Saipan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

The newly bought helicopter arrived at Saipan by ship in a container and was reassembled on the dock by the pilot, a mechanic and a mechanic's helper, for a three mile flight to the company base at the airport. The helper was sent for fuel and bought 10 gallons of Jet A, which he used to service the aircraft. The company had until then operated only turbine helicopters, and this was its first piston engined model. The pilot started up, ran up and took off; the engine lost power and he autorotated onto a submerged reef in three to four feet of water. The NTSB found the cause to be the failure of maintenance personnel to ensure the helicopter was serviced with the proper grade of fuel, with the lack of a suitable landing area as a factor. NTSB report LAX89LA129. Coordinates are approximate to Saipan.