Hughes 269C accident near Eden, North Carolina, November 19, 1986
On November 19, 1986 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N9665F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eden, North Carolina (Shiloh airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- November 19, 1986 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Eden, North Carolina · Shiloh · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9665F · registry record · serial 110088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT RELATED THAT HE HAD PLACED THE HELICOPTER AT TRIAD FOR A 50 HOUR INSPECTION. AIRCRAFT REPORTEDLY DEFUELED TO DRY TANK. SIX DAYS LATER FUEL TRUCK LOG SHOWS AIRCRAFT REFUELED WITH 23.2 GALLONS AS PAYBACK. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION FURNISHED BY OWNER AND TRIAD, THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED FOR A TOTAL OF 1 HOUR AND 25 MINUTES AT VARIOUS POWER SETTINGS. OWNER/PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON BASE LEG THE ENGINE SHUT OFF LIKE TURNING SWITCH OFF. DURING AUTROROTATION, HAD TO BLEED OFF ROTOR ENERGY TO CLEAR TREES. AFTER CLEARING TREES SAW ABANDONED POWER LINES. THOUGHT HAD HIT LINES WITH BOTTOM OF SKID. TOUCHED DOWN IN PLOWED FIELD AND ROLLED OVER. PILOT DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK FUEL AFTER LANDING BUT SAW NO LEAKS. FAA INSPECTOR ADDED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL TO DRY TANKS AFTER RECOVERY AND RAN ENGINE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. SHUT DOWN DUE TO CRACK IN FUEL LINE WHICH WAS CRIMPED. INSPECTOR INDICATED CRIMP WAS IMPACT DAMAGE.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,638 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 11, 1986; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: INT Winston-Salem NC
- Destination: NC14 Eden NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from GSO, 21 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.