Hughes 269C accident near North Highlands, California, September 13, 1982
On September 13, 1982 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N8651F, was destroyed in an accident near North Highlands, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- September 13, 1982 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- North Highlands, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8651F · no longer on the register · serial 87626
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO CONDUCT A ROTORCRAFT/HELICOPTER CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) CHECK RIDE FOR THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC). THE CHECK PILOT WAS AN FAA INSPECTOR WITH NO PREVIOUS FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, HE HAD 1816 HRS TOTAL TIME WITH 78 HRS HELICOPTER TIME PRIMARILY IN BELL 47 & 206 AIRCRAFT. THE FIRST PART OF THE CHECK FLIGHT WAS NORMAL EXCEPT WHEN IT WAS INTERUPTED FOR POLICE WORK. DURING THE COURSE OF THE CHECK FLIGHT, THE EXAMINER CHOPPED THE POWER TO SIMULATE AN EMERGENCY AS THE PIC WAS CLIMBING THROUGH ABOUT 285 FT AGL AT 42 KTS. THE PIC STATED THAT HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE & THE NEEDLES SPLIT. THERE WAS A LOSS OF ROTOR RPM. HE PUT THE HELICOPTER IN A DIVE & ROLLED THE THROTTLE ON IN INCREMENTS, BUT COULD NOT GET THE NEEDLES TO MARRY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND ON THE HEEL OF THE LEFT SKID, THEN ROLLED OVER. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION/FAILURE FOUND.ACCORDING TO THE 269C HEIGHT/VELOCITY DIAGRAM, THE EXAMINER CHOPPED THE POWER CLOSE TO THE MINIMUM LIMITS FOR SPEED/ALT.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,136 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 174 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,422 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-36-DIA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sacramento CO. Sheriff'S Dept.
The flight
- Departed from: North Highlands CA at 11:29 am
- Destination: North Highlands CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 031° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.