# NTSB CHI88FA190: Mcdonnell Douglas 269B, N9522F, Braceville, IL, August 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1988
- Place: Braceville, IL
- Location: 41.2253° N, 88.2676° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Braceville, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2253&lon=-88.2676&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13959
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88FA190
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13959/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA190

## Probable cause

CONDUCTING MANEUVERING FLIGHT THE PIC FAILED TO MONITOR THE HELICOPTER SYSTEMS AND ALLOWED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM TO DECAY TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH LIFT TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9522F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9522F-1991-03-28), registration cancelled 1991-03-28, S/N 580364 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS 269B
- Registry model: [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (registry code 4470502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 58-0364
- Airframe hours: 1112
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sportflight Helicopter Inc.
- Registered owner: Sportflight Helicopter Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 18, 1988
- Departed: ARR, AURORA, IL
- Destination: ARR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 178 total, 178 in this make and model, 137 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported
- Observed at: ARR

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880802030149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880802030149A), Aug 2, 1988: Hughes 269B, Braceville, IL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Vertical ground impact. No witnesses. No mechanical defects found. Came to rest in upright position.

## Other investigations on N9522F (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 CHI87LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA098), Mar 17, 1987: Hughes 269B (N9522F), South Bend, IN, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.