How many accidents has the Hughes 269 had?

The NTSB has recorded 390 events involving the Hughes 269: 42 fatal, 44 serious, 88 minor injuries, and 211 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Hughes 269 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Hughes 269 has 390 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Hughes 269 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 390 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

390

All Events

211

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (61 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Jun 27, 2023	Anderson, SC	N90270	Incident	substantial	The mechanics’ improper torquing of the main rotor blade dampers, which resulted in a ground resonance event during landing.
Mar 09, 2023	Titusville, FL	N8911F	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rotor blade strike of t… The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate main rotor RPM during an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rotor blade strike of the tail boom.
Feb 06, 2023	Yakima, WA	N7452F	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to see and avoid a powerline while flying at low altitude over a river.
Dec 14, 2021	Crowley, TX	N8827F	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s encounter with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during hover, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action that resulted … The student pilot’s encounter with a loss of tail rotor effectiveness during hover, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action that resulted in an emergency landing and impact with terrain.
Jan 13, 2021	Spanish Fork, UT	N7480F	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power during a practice autorotation for an undetermined reason.
Aug 25, 2019	Shamokin, PA	N653CH	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare during an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was a loss of engine power f… The pilot's improper landing flare during an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was a loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Jul 24, 2019	Springfield, TN	N269RR	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control and a loss of tail rotor effectiveness while hover-taxiing and turning toward a taxiway in gusting … The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control and a loss of tail rotor effectiveness while hover-taxiing and turning toward a taxiway in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
May 15, 2019	Hampton, GA	N9422F	Incident	substantial	Ground resonance during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Mar 10, 2018	Jacksonville, FL	N9020M	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain rotor rpm during a practice autorotation, which resulted in ground contact and a dynamic rollover.
Jun 10, 2017	Tallulah, LA	N7482F	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to reset the cyclic trim before takeoff, which resulted in ground resonance.
Jul 29, 2016	Morris, MN	N269JB	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain due to his distraction by the navigation system.
Jul 01, 2016	Cullman, AL	N9658F	Incident	substantial	The helicopter flight instructor candidate's improper execution of the autorotation, resulting in abnormal ground contact and subsequent damage to the… The helicopter flight instructor candidate's improper execution of the autorotation, resulting in abnormal ground contact and subsequent damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail rotor drive assembly.
Jul 21, 2015	Atlanta, TX	N58397	Incident	substantial	The non-helicopter rated pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Feb 06, 2015	Oresten, SW	N90584	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Aug 11, 2014	Darrington, WA	N7432F	Incident	substantial	Maintenance personnel’s failure to secure the throttle mount bracket during a recent engine installation, which resulted in the loss of throttle movem… Maintenance personnel’s failure to secure the throttle mount bracket during a recent engine installation, which resulted in the loss of throttle movement and an inability to control engine power.
Jul 23, 2013	Lewiston, ID	N9484F	Incident	substantial	The pilot's incorrect application of the cyclic control during the landing.
Mar 25, 2013	Rialto, CA	N90570	Incident	substantial	The student pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while maneuvering in a hover.
Sep 19, 2012	Mc Cool Junction, NE	N37754	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot’s entry into the autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to t… The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot’s entry into the autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power as a result of the student pilot rapidly lowering the helicopter’s collective and the partly obstructed air filter.
Jul 24, 2012	St. Petersburg, FL	N9679F	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to assure that the lateral friction control was released prior to flight.
Apr 17, 2012	Grinnell, IA	N69HJ	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper liftoff technique, which resulted in ground resonance, and the pilot's delayed recognition of the ground resonance.
Oct 14, 2011	Fort Worth, TX	N10375	Incident	substantial	The inadvertent entry into ground resonance after a hovering autorotation.
Sep 22, 2011	Ramona, CA	N1088Y	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor’s failure to follow the proper procedure while demonstrating a practice autorotation, which resulted in a total loss of engine p… The flight instructor’s failure to follow the proper procedure while demonstrating a practice autorotation, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent hard landing.
Apr 29, 2011	Edgerton, IN	N9561F	Incident	substantial	A loss of clearance between the tail rotor drive shaft and the tailboom bulkhead for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the overstress failure of… A loss of clearance between the tail rotor drive shaft and the tailboom bulkhead for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the overstress failure of the drive shaft.
Jun 01, 2010	Cannon Falls, MN	N8897F	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain rotor speed during the autorotation, which resulted in an excessive sink rate and a hard landing.
Sep 02, 2009	Arapahoe, NE	N58163	Incident	substantial	A sudden vibration for undetermined reasons.

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Hughes 269 Safety Record

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