Hughes 269A accident near Plainfield, Illinois, September 15, 1987
On September 15, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N8927F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainfield, Illinois. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
- September 15, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Plainfield, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N8927F · no longer on the register · serial 1130310
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MANEUVERING AT ABOUT 4 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED RIGHT TURN AND DESCENT, COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE ENGINE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A STUD AND BOLT HOLDING THE CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR SHAFT IN PLACE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR TO DISENGAGE FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT MAIN GEARS, RESULTING IN POWER LOSS.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,663 hours in all; 1,185 in this make and model; 1,499 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,664 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1986; 228 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.