# Accident 19890322004449A: Hughes 269C, Dekalb, IL, March 22, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 22, 1989, 16:01 local time
- Place: Dekalb, IL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Settle With Power (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8900° N, 88.7501° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8900&lon=-88.7501&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8642F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8642F-2017-04-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269C (registry code 4470504, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360D1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,553 total, 1,400 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI89FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89FA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890322004449A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENGINE FAILED, AUTOROTATED INTO TREE TOP. FELL TO GROUND.  BROKEN RINGS CAUSED ENGINE STRESS AND ROD BEARING FAILED

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI89FA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89FA062), Mar 22, 1989: Hughes 269C (N8642F), De Kalb, IL, destroyed. Probable cause: FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER FOUR CONNECTING ROD WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FAILURE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE BROKEN RING IN THE NUMBER ONE PISTON AND A DETERIORATED CENTER MAIN BEARING.

## Other reports on N8642F (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19880127013369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880127013369I), Jan 27, 1988: Hughes 269C (N8642F), Milwaukee, WI, Minor damage. Air taxiing for takeoff. Heard a pop. Sat aircraft down hard. Oil filter cap not secured. Engine covered with oil.
- [Incident 19790326011679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790326011679I), Mar 26, 1979: Hughes 269C (N8642F), Lombard, IL. Pilot made a precautionary landing in a field when low fuel light came on.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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