Hughes 269C accident near Freemont, California, September 17, 1987
On September 17, 1987 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N1101K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freemont, California (Freemont airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- September 17, 1987 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Freemont, California · Freemont · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1101K · no longer on the register · serial 311033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO A FOREIGN NATIONAL, WHO HELD A U.S. PRIVATE HELICOPTER RATING. THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) RPRTD THAT DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, HE ANNOUNCED TWICE FOR THE STUDENT TO FLARE AS THE HELICOPTER WAS PASSING THRU ABOUT 50' AGL. THE CFI THEN TOOK CONTROL & INITIATED A PWR RECOVERY. HOWEVER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE & THEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST 138' FROM WHERE IT INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 660 hours in all; 304 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 76 in the last 30 days; 567 as pilot in command; 202 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,366 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 26, 1987; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aris Helicopters LTD
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA at 8:25 pm
- Runway 31, 2,310 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from SJC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.