Hughes 269C accident near Johnston, South Carolina, July 13, 1997
On July 13, 1997 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N7413F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Johnston, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain the proper rotor RPM during the approach and flare for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1997 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Johnston, South Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C HU-269-C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7413F · no longer on the register · serial 52374410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he planned to land on his sister's property. After circling the area several times, he maneuvered for a steep approach. At about 10 feet above the trees, he added collective to slow the descent. Subsequently, 'the cabin yawed to the right.' The pilot stated that his initial thought was that he was settling with power. He immediately 'launched a little collective and tried to fly out of settling with power.' An FAA inspector, who interviewed the pilot, stated that he lowered the nose and tried to fly out of the descent. The helicopter started to spin and lose altitude. The pilot stated that in 'trying to regain control, he ran out of collective and throttle.' The helicopter impacted the ground and rolled to the right. The pilot stated that from conversations with his instructor, he learned that his rotor RPM decreased, which he failed to recover. The pilot had obtained his the helicopter on the day before the accident. He had logged 52 flight hours in this make and model of aircraft.
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: 172 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 105 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6J4 Saluda SC at 6:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from AGS
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.