Hughes 269A accident near Jacksonville, Illinois, July 22, 2001
On July 22, 2001 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N8733F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Illinois. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The helicopter's loss of engine power for undetermined reasons while maneuvering close to the ground, and the low altitude and low airspeed. A factor relating to this accident was the pilot not being able to get into autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2001 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N8733F · registry record · serial 22-0052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that he believed the helicopter lost [engine] power which resulted in the accident. He said that he did not have time to notice the engine gauges prior to the impact, due to his close proximity to the ground while conducting corn pollination. He said that he had previously flown the helicopter approximately 1.5 hours and had refueled prior to the accident flight. The pilot said that he was approximately 100 yards into the field, on a straight flight path, and at an airspeed of about 30 to 35 knots when the accident occurred. An examination of the helicopter revealed no anomalies.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,867 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 2,750 as pilot in command; 706 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 6, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,380 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 2000; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jacksonville IL at 4:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from IJX, 5 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.