Hughes 269A accident near Buford, Georgia, February 13, 1987
On February 13, 1987 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N3782B, was destroyed in an accident near Buford, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- February 13, 1987 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Buford, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N3782B · no longer on the register · serial S/N750348
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED TO SLOW DOWN OVER THE PARKING LOT THEN CONTINUED OUT OVER THE LAKE. A PUFF OF SMOKE WAS OBSERVED AROUND THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AREA AND THE HELICOPTER FISHTAILED AS IT ALMOST CAME TO A STOP THEN DROPPED INTO THE WATER NOSE FIRST. IT SANK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A HOLE IN THE CRANKCASE. THE FRACTURE SURFACES INDICATED AN INTERNAL TO EXTERNAL PUCTURE. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED A FATIGUE FAILURE OF A ROD CAP BOLT AND SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE ROD FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE WAS OBSERVED. THE PILOT WAS A LOW TIME HELICOPTER PILOT WHO COULD NOT SWIM AND WAS AFRAID OF THE WATER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,360 hours in all; 59 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,338 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 29, 1986; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-BIA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Metro Flight Services,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: GVL Gainesville GA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: Cumming GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from PDK, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.