Hughes 269 accident near Kahului, Hawaii, April 23, 1986
On April 23, 1986 at about 9:49 pm local time, a Hughes 269 (helicopter), registered N9288F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kahului, Hawaii (Kahului airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- April 23, 1986 · about 9:49 pm local time
- Place
- Kahului, Hawaii · Kahului · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269 · all 269s on the register
- Registration
- N9288F · no longer on the register · serial 1140376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A HUGHES 269 WENT OUT OF CONTROL AFTER TURNING LEFT INTO A 20 KT TAILWIND CONDITION. THE PLT INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE ENG WAS RUN ON A ENG TEST STAND AND NO DEFICIENTCIES WERE FOUND. A FUEL SAMPLE WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFIED PARAMETERS. AC 61-13B STATES 'HOVERING TURNS SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN WINDS STRONG ENOUGH TO PRECLUDE SUFFICIENT AFT CYCLIC CONTROL TO MAINTAIN THE HELICOPTER ON SELECTED SURFACE REFERENCE POINT WHEN HEADED DOWNWIND. CHECK THE HELICOPTER FLIGHT MANUAL FOR MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS LIMITATION.' 'HOVERING POWER REQUIRES A LARGE AMOUNT OF LEFT PEDAL TO MAINTAIN HEADING. SUFFICIENT LEFT PEDAL IN EXCESS OF THIS AMOUNT MUST BE AVAILABLE TO PREVENT AN UNCONTROLLED TURN TO THE RIGHT ONCE THE TURN HAS BEGUN.' THE OPERATORS MANUAL FOR THE HUGHES MODEL 269C STATES THAT 'CONTROLLABILITY HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE ADEQUATE IN 20 MPH (17.4 KTS) WINDS FROM ANY DIRECTION.' THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 080 DEG AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 29 KTS.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,246 hours in all; 251 in this make and model; 204 in the last 90 days; 1,143 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,446 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 3, 1986; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OGG Kahului HI at 9:49 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 20 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from OGG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.