NTSB investigations: Hughes 269B

6 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Hughes 269B, where the first occurrence was “Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction”. 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.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19822026

NTSB investigations: Hughes 269B per year, 1982–2026: 6 cases
1982	1
1984	2
1989	1
1991	1
2006	1

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with SQL

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 ('4470502') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 130)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

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 ('4470502')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 130))
  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 ('4470502')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 130))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run 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 CHI06LA124Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269B · Sullivan, OHFatigue failure of the fuselage-to-tail boom cluster fitting, and the secondary failure of the tail rotor drive shaft. An additional cause was the incomplete compliance with an applicable Airworthiness Directive. A factor was the ditch.May 3, 2006 · N9471F · Substantial damage NTSB FTW91FA123Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 269B · Brickeys, ARThe failure of the clutch control cable due to fraying which initiated the forced landing and the operator's failure to perform recommended inspections on the aircraft. Factors were the pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM and the unsuitable terrain.Jul 18, 1991 · N11XC · Destroyed NTSB MIA89LA255Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269B · Lexington, MSFatigue failure of the linear actuator lug. A related factor was: trees in the emergency landing area.Sep 21, 1989 · N9318F · Substantial damage NTSB FTW85FA050Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 269B · Clint, TXN9336F, crashed while on a training flt. The certified flt instructor & his student were killed. Investigation revealed that the main drive shaft thrust bearing had failed. A service bulletin dated 1968 mandated replacement of the bearing at 300 hr time in…Nov 13, 1984 · N9336F · Destroyed NTSB LAX84FA371Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportHughes 269B · Palos Verde Est, CAGnd witnesses obsvd helicopter into normal turn at 500 ft AGL followed by a violent rt turn. During the violent turn the tail rotor assy separated & the main rotor blades coned upwards. The helicopter went into a near vertical descent & crashed. Wreckage exam…Jun 28, 1984 · N9400F · Destroyed NTSB CHI82DA327Accident · No injuriesFinal reportHughes 269B · Medina, OHThe pilot stated that shortly after takeoff, at about 800 feet AGL he felt a violent vibration lasting for 2 or 3 seconds. He reentered the downwind leg to the airport and experienced the vibration again. The aircraft then entered an uncontrollable spiral to…Aug 28, 1982 · N9307F · Destroyed