# NTSB DEN81FTI11: Hughes 269C, N8988F, Ennis, MT, June 26, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 26, 1981
- Place: Ennis, MT · ENNIS, MT
- Location: 45.3461° N, 111.7321° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ennis, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3461&lon=-111.7321&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125320
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTI11
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTI11

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3312  81/6/26    ENNIS,MT            HUGHES 269C         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 60, 1041
        TIME - 0510                    N8988F              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 64 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BIG SKY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ENNIS,MT                    BILLINGS,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LIGHT AND VARIABLE
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           52                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- D/A APRX 6200FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8988F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8988F-2013-07-11), registration cancelled 2013-07-11, S/N 240276, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Big Sky

## 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 19810626036659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810626036659A), Jun 26, 1981: Hughes 269C, Ennis, MT, Substantial damage. Settled back to ground on running takeoff. Rocked back on skids. Main rotor severed tail boom.

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.