Hughes 269A accident near Daniels, West Virginia, May 29, 1986
On May 29, 1986 at about 1:05 am local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N8889F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Daniels, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1986 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Daniels, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N8889F · no longer on the register · serial 264
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE NOTED A 'LARGE VIBRATION' AFTER HE HAD TAKEN OFF. HE SUSPECTED A PSBL BIRD STRIKE OR BEARING FAILURE, & SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO TREES. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ENG DID NOT FAIL; HOWEVER, WITNESSES SAW THE HELICOPTER FLYING AT LOW ALT BFR IT CRASHED & THEY THOUGHT THE ENG WAS LOSING POWER. APRX 1-1/2 QTS OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK. NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL LEAK OR SPILL WAS FOUND. A NUMBER OF MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCIESWERE NOTED, BUT NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS VERIFIED. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.14%.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 124 hours in all; 124 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1985; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,575 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Daniels WV at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.