Hughes 269A accident near Lowell, Michigan, April 21, 1982
On April 21, 1982 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N8059F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lowell, Michigan (Lowell City airport). It was an instructional 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 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
- April 21, 1982 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Lowell, Michigan · Lowell City
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N8059F · no longer on the register · serial 56-054-9
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FIRST SOLO FLIGHT IN A HELICOPTER THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE THREE NORMAL TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. ON THE SECOND LANDING, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A HOVER, THE BACK OF THE SKID STRUCK THE GROUND DURING A DRIFT-BACK. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 396 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 218 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,077 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 24C Lowell MI at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 24C Lowell MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,675 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.