Hughes 269A accident near Berlin Center, Ohio, May 28, 2006
On May 28, 2006 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N69HU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berlin Center, Ohio. 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 pilot flew at a low altitude and failed to maintain clearance from the wire. A factor was the wire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2006 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Berlin Center, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N69HU · registry record · serial 67-16815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight, a single engine helicopter was substantialy damaged when it impacted the terrain after colliding with a static power line wire that was about 52 feet above the ground. The helicopter was observed over-flying a parade route prior to the impact with the power line. Witnesses reported that the helicopter was flying westbound over the middle of highway. It was observed flying straight and level at a low altitude. One witness reported that the helicopter was flying at treetop level for about 1,000 feet 1/2 mile before the accident. The landing skid caught the top neutral wire and the helicopter rotated upside down and impacted the middle of the road. The inspection of the helicopter revealed no pre-impact airframe and engine 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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,236 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Unknoown
- Destination: Berlin Center OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from YNG, 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.