Hughes 269C accident near Knowles, Oklahoma, February 18, 1991
On February 18, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N8973F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knowles, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE DURING THE MANEUVER AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING THE GO-AROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Knowles, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8973F · registry record · serial 430195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DECIDED TO EXECUTE A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION TO A PASTURE FROM AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 1,000 FEET AGL. HOWEVER, DURING THE MANEUVER, WHICH WAS INITIATED IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED AN EXCESSIVE SINK RATE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE MANEUVER AND GO AROUND, BUT AFTER APPLYING POWER, HE WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE SINK RATE BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD.
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: 1,445 hours in all; 1,445 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,376 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,605 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 7, 1990; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Beaver OK at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 25°F (-4°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.