Hughes 269C accident near Monahans, Texas, October 24, 1986
On October 24, 1986 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N8970F, was destroyed in an accident near Monahans, Texas. 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 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
- October 24, 1986 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Monahans, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8970F · no longer on the register · serial 840336
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A PARTIAL LOSS OF PWR AFTER LIFTOFF FROM A TRAILER. THE ACFT SETTLED BACK DOWN ONTO THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER AND SUBSEQUENTLY ROLLED OVER. THE ENG CONTINUED TO RUN FOLLOWING THE ROLL OVER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A 175 RPM MAG DROP DURING HIS RUN UP, BUT HAD ELECTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE FLT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NO. 2 CYL FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE WAS CLOGGED AND THAT THE RIGHT MAGNETO WAS WEAK AND NOT FIRING PROPERLY. THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION IN THE MAGNETO COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,948 hours in all; 4,743 in this make and model; 166 in the last 90 days; 4,859 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.