Hughes 269C N81AM
5 August 1989 · Hollywood, Florida, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 5 August 1989 at about 15:55 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N81AM, operated by Crescent Airways, was involved in an accident near Hollywood, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hollywood, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- North Perry (HWO)
- Coordinates
- 25.9894, -80.2192
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C
- Registration
- N81AM
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Crescent Airways
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA89LA243
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE SEVERE FUSELAGE VIBRATION (GROUND RESONANCE) AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION TO AVOID OR COMPENSATE FOR THE OCCURRENCE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW SHOCK STRUT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING COCKPIT AND RUNUP PROCEDURES TO THE STUDENT, WHEN THE HELICOPTER BECAME LIGHT ON THE SKIDS WITH OPERATING RPM & GROUND RESONANCE DEVELOPED. THE INSTRUCTOR BOTTOMED THE PITCH & SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, BUT THE GROUND RESONANCE BECAME WORSE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TAIL BOOM WAS CHOPPED OFF BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, A FUEL CELL RUPTURED & A FIRE ERUPTED. ACCORDING TO AN FAA HANDBOOK (AC 61-13B), THE CORRECT PROCEDURE FOR GETTING OUT OF GROUND RESONANCE WAS TO LIFT OFF. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT FRONT SHOCK STRUT WAS LOW.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Nov 1989 | Hughes 269C | Estacada, Oregon, United States | Helicopter Enterprises | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 May 1989 | Hughes 269A | Ozark, Alabama, United States | Alabama AVI. & Tech. College | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1989 | Hughes 269A | Saluda, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Mar 1989 | Hughes 269A | Malibu, California, United States | Williams, Gerald L. | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1989 | Hughes 269C | Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1989 | Hughes 269C | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | Omniflight | No injuries | - |
All 1,213 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Mar 1989 | Cessna 172H | Melbourne, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Mar 1989 | Piper AEROSTAR 600 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Top Flight Air Service | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Mar 1989 | Bellanca 7KCAB | Daytona Bch Shr, Florida, United States | Aerial Messages, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Apr 1989 | Beechcraft C-45H | Tampa, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 1989 | Coutz QUICKIE Q-2 | Lake City, Florida, United States | Rowe, Reardon L. | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Apr 1989 | Cessna 150M | Miramar, Florida, United States | Tursair, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |