Hughes 269A accident near Monticello, Arkansas, November 8, 1994
On November 8, 1994 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N10415, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monticello, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FATIGUED ROD END BOLT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1994 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N10415 · no longer on the register · serial 76-0629
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING SPRAYING OPERATIONS THE HELICOPTER LOST ENGINE POWER AND THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. DURING THE DESCENT THE PILOT BECAME AWARE OF A PILE OF LOGS IN HIS PATH SO HE EXTENDED THE GLIDE. TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE TO THE ONLY SPACE AVAILABLE AND THE AIRCRAFT SANK INTO SOFT/WET MUD AND ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS DUE TO A FAILED PISTON ROD END RETAINING BOLT.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,736 hours in all; 780 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,516 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,157 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1994; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ark-La-Tex Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from PBF, 35 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N10415 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.