Hughes 269 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 390 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2003 | Hillsboro, OR | N7452F | Incident | substantial | The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a practice auto rotation landing. A contributing factor was the soft terrain. |
| Oct 07, 2003 | Huntsville, AL | N911HC | Serious (1) | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while hovering out of ground effect, which resulted in a collision with a tree and subsequent uncon…The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while hovering out of ground effect, which resulted in a collision with a tree and subsequent uncontrolled collision with the ground. |
| Sep 28, 2003 | Gail, TX | N9620F | Minor | substantial | The loss of control for undetermined reasons. |
| Aug 25, 2003 | Columbia, CA | N58363 | Incident | substantial | the student pilot's improper execution of the autorotation. Also causal, was the CFI's delayed remedial action and supervision of the flight. |
| Jul 30, 2003 | Freer, TX | N81170 | Minor | substantial | Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. |
| Jul 29, 2003 | Scappoose, OR | N61442 | Minor | substantial |
The helicopter encountering a ground resonance condition following a failure to maintain hovering flight. Contributing factors to the accident includ…The helicopter encountering a ground resonance condition following a failure to maintain hovering flight. Contributing factors to the accident included the pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM and the high pressure state of the landing gear shock absorbing dampers. |
| Jul 28, 2003 | Melba, ID | N171FF | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter due to his failure to maintain rotor rpm. Factors contributing to the accident were the cor…The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter due to his failure to maintain rotor rpm. Factors contributing to the accident were the corn crop, and the pilot's abrupt maneuver to avoid obstacles. |
| Jul 25, 2003 | Marblemount, WA | N500HS | Incident | substantial |
The partial failure of a magneto during hover taxi over water, leading to a forced landing in shallow water near the shoreline. Factors include the ai…The partial failure of a magneto during hover taxi over water, leading to a forced landing in shallow water near the shoreline. Factors include the aircraft being over a lake at the time that the partial loss of power made it impossible to keep it airborne. |
| Jul 24, 2003 | Snohomish, WA | N53KF | Incident | substantial |
The dual students failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during the go-around from a simulated autorotational flare, and the instructor pilot'…The dual students failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during the go-around from a simulated autorotational flare, and the instructor pilot's failure to take adequate remedial action to keep the dual student from allowing the aircraft to impact the terrain. |
| May 28, 2003 | Watkins, CO | N9643F | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
failure of both pilots to initiate a timely recovery from a practice autorotation. A contributing factor was the instructor's inadequate supervision o…failure of both pilots to initiate a timely recovery from a practice autorotation. A contributing factor was the instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction. |
| Apr 11, 2003 | Auburn, CA | N16133 | Fatal (2) | destroyed | the misjudged flare maneuver by an unknown crewmember during a likely practice autorotation that resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. |
| Nov 01, 2002 | Fort Gibson, OK | N8885F | Fatal (1) | destroyed | The in-flight separation of the tail boom resulting from the failure of the fuselage to tail boom attachment fitting lugs, due to fatigue. |
| Sep 24, 2002 | Council Bluffs, IA | N1040S | Incident | substantial | The premature fracture of the cyclic/mixture bracket resulting in the inability to conduct a landing flare. |
| Aug 16, 2002 | Dannevirke, NZ | ZK-HFW | Fatal (1) | destroyed | Investigation pending |
| Aug 10, 2002 | Covington, WA | N90271 | Incident | substantial | Aircraft control not maintained while hovering. |
| Mar 27, 2002 | Fort Collins, CO | N8942F | Incident | substantial |
the flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering. Contributing factors were the tailwind and gusty wind condition…the flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while hovering. Contributing factors were the tailwind and gusty wind conditions. |
| Mar 24, 2002 | Bessemer, AL | N7490F | Incident | substantial |
The failure of the flight instructor to adequately monitor the student's rotorcraft control, resulting in an abrupt cyclic input causing a tail rotor …The failure of the flight instructor to adequately monitor the student's rotorcraft control, resulting in an abrupt cyclic input causing a tail rotor strike of the terrain while entering a hover, and the resulting rollover during an uncontrolled descent. |
| Feb 19, 2002 | Lorain, OH | N9296F | Incident | substantial | The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. |
| Nov 17, 2001 | Richmond, TX | N9294F | Serious (1) | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power line while landing. |
| Sep 08, 2001 | Lubbock, TX | N7472F | Incident | destroyed | The loss of engine power while maneuvering for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was a malfunction of the spray system. |
| Aug 26, 2001 | Pontiac, MI | N9390F | Incident | substantial |
the checklist not compiled with by the operator and not verified by the operator’s pilot and the operator's flight instructor. An additional cause wa…the checklist not compiled with by the operator and not verified by the operator’s pilot and the operator's flight instructor. An additional cause was the improper autorotation by the pilot in command. The out of calibration engine idle speed was a contributing factor. |
| Aug 21, 2001 | Tucumcari, NM | N502AA | Incident | substantial |
failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the unsuccessful low altitude flight maneuver, and …failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the unsuccessful low altitude flight maneuver, and the high density altitude weather conditions. |
| Aug 07, 2001 | Lewiston, NY | N3626B | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the simulated forced landing. Also causal in the accident was the failure of both pilots to recogniz…The pilot's failure to maintain rotor rpm during the simulated forced landing. Also causal in the accident was the failure of both pilots to recognize the total loss of engine power and the CFI's inadequate remedial actions. A factor in the accident was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. |
| Jul 22, 2001 | JACKSONVILLE, IL | N8733F | Minor | substantial |
The helicopter's loss of engine power for undetermined reasons while maneuvering close to the ground, and the low altitude and low airspeed. A factor…The helicopter's loss of engine power for undetermined reasons while maneuvering close to the ground, and the low altitude and low airspeed. A factor relating to this accident was the pilot not being able to get into autorotation. |
| Jul 21, 2001 | Tracy, CA | N5015V | Incident | substantial | The pilot's misjudgement of the landing flare during an autorotation demonstration. Factors were shifting winds and an excessive descent rate. |