- Date
- May 9, 1988, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Ozark, AL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1038YHughes 269A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 2, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880509013679A
- Case key
- 7603
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Three months prior to the accident a mechanic repaired the left magneto. He reinstalled it and timed it with the right magneto. Both magnetos were found to have advanced timing. Internal examination showed discrepancies which would lead to electrical breakdown. After takeoff the engine backfired and the pilot in command attempted what appeared to be a backup autorotation to a run-on landing. Examination of the crash site demonstrated that the vertical descent was stopped, however, the forward velocity was not. After touchdown the helo slid through a ditch. Collision with the FAR side of the ditch resulted in fatal impact forces transmitted to the pilot in command.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1038Y
- Reported as
- Hughes 269A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 660583
- Airframe hours
- 4,034
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-B1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Operator
- Dale County Sheriff
- Registered owner
- Bill Williams
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 22, 1987 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- 71J · Ozark, AL
- Destination
- 1J0 · Bonifay, FL
- Airport
- 71J
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 6,856 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DHN, 10 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.