Hughes 369 accident near Weatherford, Texas, April 8, 2016
On April 8, 2016 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1968 Hughes 369 (helicopter), registered N298SD, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Weatherford, Texas (Staggs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot/mechanic's inadequate postmaintenance and preflight inspections, which resulted in his failure to remove the antitorque pedal lock and a subsequent loss of control during hover operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2016 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Weatherford, Texas · Staggs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369 A, built 1968 · all 369s on the register
- Registration
- N298SD · registry record · serial 280332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/mechanic stated that, while performing maintenance on the helicopter, he locked the left side antitorque (tail rotor) pedals to keep them out of the way; however, he forgot to unlock them after completing the maintenance. The pilot then conducted a post-maintenance hover check, and, upon increasing collective, the helicopter entered a spin, traveled about 40 feet, and collided with a building and trees. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident was the result of his failure to remove the antitorque pedal lock before flight.
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
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Flight control sys malf/fail during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Post maintenance inspection › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Rotorcraft flight control › Tail rotor control system › Inadequate inspection
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 649 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 601 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 18, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,195 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 14, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce Corporation 250-C10B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TE93 Weatherford TX at 2:30 pm
- Destination: TE93 Weatherford TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from KNFW, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on November 2, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Tm 55-1520-214-10 Antitorque Control System | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Tm 55-1520-214-10 Operating Procedures | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Md Helicopters Service Letter SL369H-124R3 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N298SD 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.