Hughes 269C accident near Saipan, Cq, March 20, 1989
On March 20, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N7470F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saipan. It was a ferry 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
FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO ASSURE THE HELICOPTER WAS SERVICED WITH THE PROPER GRADE OF FUEL. A FACTOR REALATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA, WHICH RESULTED IN HAVING TO DITCH THE HELICOPTER IN THE WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Saipan, CQ
- 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
- N7470F · no longer on the register · serial 170553
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NEWLY PURCHASED HELICOPTER WAS TRANSPORTED TO SAIPAN BY SHIP IN A CONTAINER. AFTER UNLOADING, THE PILOT, A MECHANIC AND A MECHANIC'S HELPER REASSEMBLED IT ON THE DOCK. THE HELPER WAS SENT TO BUY SOME FUEL FOR THE HELICOPTER, SO IT COULD BE FLOWN FROM THE DOCK TO THE COMPANY BASE AT THE AIRPORT. THE COMPANY HAD BEEN OPERATING TURBINE POWERED HELICOPTERS ONLY; THIS WAS ITS FIRST PISTON POWERED MODEL. THE HELPER WENT TO THE FUEL FACILITY AND BOUGHT 10 GALLONS OF JET-A FUEL, WHICH HE USED TO SERVICE THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT STARTED THE HELICOPTER, DID A RUN-UP AND TOOK OFF FOR A 3 MILE FLIGHT TO THE AIRPORT. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE AN AUTOROTATION TO A SUBMERGED REEF IN ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET OF WATER.
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: 9,541 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 271 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 9,145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from PGSN, 3 miles away
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.
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.