Hughes 269A accident near Davison, Michigan, July 12, 1982
On July 12, 1982 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N8902F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davison, Michigan (Davison.Genova airport). It was an instructional 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
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
- July 12, 1982 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Davison, Michigan · Davison.Genova
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N8902F · no longer on the register · serial 83-0279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING A 180 DEGREE PEDAL TURN TO THE RIGHT WHILE HOVERING. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) STATED THAT AFTER 90 DEGREES OF TURN, THE RATE OF TURNING STARTED TO INCREASE AND THE STUDENT APPLIED LEFT PEDAL TO SLOW THE TURN. THE IP NOTED THAT THE RPM HAD DROPPED BELOW THE NORMAL RANGE AND TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE IP INCREASED THE RPM AND ADDED LEFT PEDAL, BUT THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. HE THEN INITIATED A HOVERING AUTOROTATION, BUT DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,350 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 1,184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,556 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Helicopters LTD.
The flight
- Departed from: Flint MI at 4:10 pm
- Destination: Flint MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,526 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 172°F (78°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.