Hughes 269C accident near Lorain, Ohio, February 19, 2002
On February 19, 2002 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N9296F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lorain, Ohio (Lorain County Regional Airport). It was an instructional 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 directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2002 · about 8:10 pm local time · cases in 2002
- Place
- Lorain, Ohio · Lorain County Regional Airport · cases near this airport · map
- 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
- N9296F · registry record · serial 350407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred during the pilot's second solo takeoff in a helicopter, and his first takeoff from a platform. After quickly lifting off, the helicopter began a 360-degree "aggravated spin" to the right. The pilot then "chopped" the throttle and the collective, and the helicopter "dropped fast." The helicopter impacted the platform, then rolled onto its left side and impacted the ground. Examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical discrepancies.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 173 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 15, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,053.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 27, 2001; 21.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming RL-21866-51A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hurst Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LPR
- Destination: LPR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from LPR
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 N9296F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9296F on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Hughes 269 300 series helicopters 207 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Hughes 386 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming RL-21866-51A · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lorain County Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Ohio 1,884 since 1982 · 253 in the last ten years
- Ohio 8,529 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N9296F 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/IAD02LA033.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.