# Accident 19970917027049A: Hughes 269A, Tarpon Springs, FL, September 17, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 17, 1997, 11:00 local time
- Place: Tarpon Springs, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.1494° N, 82.6799° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1494&lon=-82.6799&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6786M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6786M-2001-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes TH-55A (registry code 4471004, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360B1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97TA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97TA246) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970917027049A

## Narrative

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

ENGINE QUIT ON MOSQUITO PATROL. 200 FT OVER WATER AUTORATED. ENGINE REVIVED BEGAN CLIMB. SKID HIT WATER. (-23) ON SEPT. 17, 1997 ABOUT 1103 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HUGHES 269A HELICOPTER, N6786M REGISTERED TO PASEO COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT, OPERATING AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, LOCAL PUBLIC USE FLIGHT, LOST ENGINE POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN WATER NEAR TARPON SPRINGS, FL. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED FROM ANCOLOTE ISLAND, FL. THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED THE ISLAND AFTER COMPLETING AN INSPECTION AND WAS AT LOW ALTITUDE, WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND REAGINED FULL POWER. THE PILOT WAS SETTING UP FOR A AUTOROTATION WHEN THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE WATER.

## 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 MIA97TA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97TA246), Sep 17, 1997: Hughes 269A (N6786M), Tarpon Springs, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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