Hughes 269C N8955F
20 February 1991 · North Mankato, Minnesota, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 20 February 1991 at about 16:00 local time, a Hughes 269C registered N8955F, operated by Helicopter Flight, Inc., was involved in an accident near North Mankato, Minnesota, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were 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 16:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- North Mankato, Minnesota, United States
- Coordinates
- 44.1597, -93.9897
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C
- Registration
- N8955F
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Helicopter Flight, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Mankato → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI91LA097
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FATIQUE FAILURE OF THE TAIL BOOM SUPPORT STRUT ATTACHMENT CLUSTER AND THE IMPROPER INSPECTION OF THE CLUSTER ATTACHMENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER THEN BEGAN ROTATING CLOCKWISE AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN IN A WOODED AREA. POST ACCIDENT IMSPECTION REVEALED A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE TAIL BOOM SUPPORT STRUT CLUSTER FITTING (LEFT SIDE). AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE ISSUED IN 1976 CALLED FOR A DAILY VISUAL INSPECTION AND A 200 HOUR DYE PENETRANT INSPECTION OF THE FITTING. A LOGBOOK ENTRY DATE AUGUST 15, 1990, STATED ALL AD'S HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 269 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1991 | Hughes 269C | Deland, Florida, United States | Maverick Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 1991 | Hughes 269A-1 | No. Little Rock, Arkansas, United States | North Little Rock Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1991 | Hughes 269B | Grand Ronde, Oregon, United States | Precision Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Hughes 269A-1 | Canby, Oregon, United States | Noble Helicopters, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1991 | Hughes 269C | Blakely, Georgia, United States | Flight Safety International | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Jun 1991 | Hughes 269B | Warrenton, Oregon, United States | Conquest Helicopter, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
All 1,213 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Hibbing, Minnesota, United States | WM. & Audrey Svigel | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 May 1991 | Piper PA-22-160 | Mankato, Minnesota, United States | Steve/Chris Napier | No injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1991 | Cessna 172P | Maple Lake, Minnesota, United States | Crystal Shamrock, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 May 1991 | Beechcraft C-23 | Cottage Grove, Minnesota, United States | General Avaition Services | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 May 1991 | Cessna 150 | Cambridge, Minnesota, United States | Thomas W. Parker | No injuries | - |
| 28 May 1991 | Piper PA28-140 | Albany, Minnesota, United States | Skalicky, Norm | No injuries | - |