NTSB investigations: Hughes 269A
401 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Hughes 269A. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.
Cases, newest first
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('4470402'))
ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('4470402'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESCRun it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB FTW96LA244Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269 · Dallas, TXThe student pilot's encounter with dynamic rollover while hovering. Factors were the prevailing high winds and the inadequate supervision provided by the flight instructor.NTSB NYC96LA086Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Linden, NJimproper flare by the pilot, and his failure to take proper corrective action after the helicopter touched down hard and entered ground resonance.NTSB FTW96LA125Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Dallas, TXFailure of the unqualified helicopter pilot to maintain control of the helicopter. Factors relating to the accident were: his lack of total experience in helicopters and his improper decision to attempt to hover without appropriate training/endorsement for…NTSB LAX95LA136Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Van Nuys, CAthe operation of the helicopter with improper adjustment of the landing gear and main rotor dampers due to the inadequate maintenance inspection of the helicopter by maintenance personnel and an inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot.NTSB FTW95LA039Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Monticello, ARThe loss of engine power due to a fatigued rod end bolt. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for landing.NTSB CHI94LA279Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes TH-55A · Houghton, MIfailure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft.NTSB CHI94LA013Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Coldwater, MIthe fatigue failure of the tailboom support strut attachment lug.NTSB LAX93FA260Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Henderson, NVthe pilot's improper use of the collective control and his failure to maintain adequate RPM during an autorotative descent during a practice power off landing. A factor which contributed to the accident related to the pilot's lack of recent experience…NTSB MIA93LA061Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Jacksonville, FLThe failure of the pilot-in-command to monitor fuel quantity due to inattentiveness. Contributing to the accident was the improper use of the collective flight control during the soft field autorotation.NTSB CHI91DCJ05Accident · No injuriesFinal reportMcdonnell Douglas 269A · Harvard, NEThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate rotor RPM during aerial application maneuvers. A related factor was the pilot's inattention.NTSB NYC91LA159Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Manassas, VAThe pilot's improper inflight decision and his failure to maintain proper airspeed at a low altitude which resulted in the helicopter settling with power. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to follow prescribed procedures/directives.NTSB LAX91LA224Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Palm Springs, CALack of total experience by the unqualified person at the controls; improper use of rotorcraft flight controls by an unqualified person. A factor in the accident was the fence.NTSB FTW91LA050Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Addison, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.NTSB CHI91LA048Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Sellersburg, INA pilot induced loss of engine power by inadvertent deactivation of the fuel mixture control.NTSB FTW90FA183Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Kingsville, TXThe fatigue failure of the left flange on the tail boom saddle fitting.NTSB NYC90LA134Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Pittstown, NJGround resonance due to inadequate servicing and maintenance of the landing gear dampers.NTSB SEA90LA084Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Bremerton, WAFailure of the tail rotor control for an undetermined reason.NTSB LAX89LA324Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · AganaInadequate visual lookout by the pilot, which resulted in his failure to see-and-avoid the power line. The power line was a related factor.NTSB MIA89LA231Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Jacksonville, FLInadequate visual look-out by the pilot and his failure to maintain control of the helicopter, while maneuvering to avoid obstructions. The transmission lines were considered to be factors.NTSB ATL89LA199Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Saluda, SCStudent pilot's improper use of the flight controls during lift-off and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.NTSB ATL89LA145Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Ozark, ALThe pilot's excessive use of the cyclic control and the misjudged flare during a practice touchdown autorotation.NTSB LAX89LA127Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Malibu, CAThe failure of the passenger to follow briefed procedures and the failure of ground personnel to provide adequate assistance.NTSB MIA89LA056Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Crystal River, FLThe plt stated that he was giving a friend a ride in the acft when he inadvertantly struck powerlines and crashed in shallow water.NTSB MIA89IA030Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Daytona Beach, FLDuring normal cruise flt, the main rotor drive system failed for undetermined reason(s). Grass was ignited by exhaust gasses after touchdown, resulting in fire, destroying the helicopter. Examination of eng compartment revealed no evidence of catastrophic…NTSB ATL88LA249Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Saluda, SCThe instructor pilot reported that they were conducting autorotation training. During an autorotation the crew delayed initiating the power recovery. The helicopters struck the ground causing substantial damage. The pilots did not report experiencing a system…NTSB NYC88LA226Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Pittstown, NJThe CFI was demonstrating a departure autorotation to a prospective student. A high rate of descent with low airspeed and low rotor RPM developed and the CFI attempted a power recovery with no results. The acft touched down hard, the skids collapsed and the…NTSB ATL88FA168Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Ozark, ALThree 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…NTSB MIA88LA124Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Opa Locka, FLStudent pilot lost control of helicopter during aerial taxi. The helicopter made ground contact and entered into ground resonance. When the instructor attempted to regain control of the helicopter he found the student frozen on the controls preventing him…NTSB CHI87DEE10Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportHughes 269A · Plainfield, ILWhile maneuvering at about 4 feet above ground level the pilot experienced a loss of engine power and entered an uncontrolled right turn and descent, colliding with the ground. The engine power loss was due to the failure of a stud and bolt holding the…NTSB ATL87LA256Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Morristown, TNOne CFI was demonstrating his procedures for autorotations with power recovery to his employer who was also a CFI. This was to insure standardization within the helicopter pilot school. The autorotation was entered from about 700 feet AGL to the departure…NTSB MIA87LA089Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Jacksonville, FLThe instructor plt was demonstrating a hovering autorotation landing with forward movement, when, after the throttle was closed, the helicopter hung in the air. Forward cyclic was then applied when he realized that the rotor RPM began to deteriorate. The…NTSB SEA87LA005Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Forest Grove, ORPlt was overflying filbert orchard to shake nuts off trees with rotowash. Plt allowed rotor RPM to decay in a down wind turn 10 feet AGL. Acft collided with trees, then ground, and rolled over.NTSB ATL86LA141Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Daniels, WVThe plt stated that he noted a 'large vibration' after he had taken off. He suspected a psbl bird strike or bearing failure, & subsequently, the helicopter crashed into trees. According to the plt, the eng did not fail; however, witnesses saw the helicopter…NTSB CHI86LA127Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Ft. Wayne, INApprox 10-15 minutes after takeoff the student pilot lost control of the helicopter and crash landed into trees. Following the accident, the only unusual thing FAA personnel could locate was a failed horizontal stabilizer spar. Post-crash examination of the…NTSB CHI86LA124Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Lowell, MIThe pilot had just completed two autorotations when he landed hard on the third. The main rotor flexed down severing the tailboom and tailrotor. Although the pilot had logged over 6000 hours flight time, he had only 51 hours total rotorcraft time. He had…NTSB CHI86FER03Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportHughes 269A (TH-55A) · Lakeville, MNThe CFI reported the accident occurred during a demonstration of wind effect during turns around a point. The CFI reported that as the helicopter was turned downwind it began descending from an alt of aprx 200 ft AGL. It continued it's descent until the right…NTSB ATL86LA053Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Brewton, ALDuring low level controlled burning of a small timber forest the helicopter lost power. A forced landing was attempted in a field and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The aircraft owner related that the aircraft ran out of fuel.NTSB MIA86LA016Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Marco Island, FLThe plt stated that while on a photographic flt the eng lost pwr & he autorotated the acft into the water. After the acft was recovered & returned to it's home base, the fuel system was drained & purged of all fluids, the magnetos were cleaned, reinstalled &…NTSB CHI85LA352Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Hector, MNAfter liftoff from an open field, on a short local flight the helicopter experienced fuel exhaustion. During the auto rotation landing, in an open field the helicopter rolled on the side.NTSB CHI85LA290Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Oconomowoc, WIThe helicpoter contacted a corn crop and came to rest inverted during an aerial application flt. The plt stated, 3 passes were made over the fld being sprayed and after a turn to begin the 4th pass, the helicopter settled with pwr contacting the crop.NTSB FTW85LA030Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Terrell, TXAcft was substantially damaged during an autorotative landing after the plt heard a 'loud pop' from the rear of the helicopter. Investigation revealed the spines on the lower pulley shaft coupling were severly stripped.NTSB LAX84LA260Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269 · Mesa, AZThe acft landed hard during an autorotation demonstration by a CFI. During landing the rotor blades severed the tail andthe acft went into ground resonance. The CFI said he thought the acft lost transitional lift. He recommended not practicing autorotations…NTSB NYC84LA134Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Danbury, CTWhile in flt, the helicopter yawed & the eng RPM increased. The plt retarded the throttle to idle, lowered the collective & initiate an autorotation. While attempting to reach a suitable landing area, the plt kept his speed up to avoid buildings. However,…NTSB ATL84LA125Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269 · Supply, NCThe plt and passg stated that as the flt approached Supply, NC, the wx conditions deterioriated and the helicopter encountered a fog bank. The passg recalled that the visibility reduced completely and visual contact with the ground was lost. The plt decided…NTSB ATL83LA387Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Moultrie, GAThe acft landed hard during an autorotational forced landing after engine stoppage. This was an aerial application flt in VMC weather. Reportedly the engine quit at 100 ft AGL over trees while the plt was trying to land to reload. After the power loss a hard…NTSB LAX83LA340Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269 · Mesa, AZThe instructor was demonstrating a power recovery autorotation to a dry river bed, which he initiated at 500 feet AGL by rolling off the throttle and lowering the collective. Aprx 5 seconds later he observed a change in sound and noticed the engine RPM at 0.…NTSB ATL83LA246Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Gastonia, NCWhile en route at 500 ft AGL, the eng suddenly lost power & went to idle RPM. During an autorotation to the side of a highway, the acft was maneuvered over a power line, then under another line. After touchdown, the helicopter slid into some bushes & a small…NTSB LAX83LA180Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · Lindsay, CAThe plt was rounding up cattle for a bbq. One of the steer in the herd charged the helicopter & struck its skid. The main rotor deflected & severed the tail boom. The plt lost control of the acft which impacted the ground & rolled over.NTSB MIA83LA087Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269A · St. Petersburg, FLThe helicopter contacted the ground with a skid during a hover and ended up in a dynamic roll over. This was a dual instructional flt and the student was at the controls in a hover at the runways end awaiting twr instructions when the right skid became stuck…NTSB FTW82DA327Accident · No injuriesFinal reportHughes 269A · Forgan, OKThe purpose of the flight was to look for a missing person. The pilot reported that during an approach to land, he lost tail rotor control and the helicopter began to spin to the right. He set the helicopter down while it was turning, but the right skid hit a…