Hughes 369C accident near Papua, Pp, April 2, 1991
On April 2, 1991 at about 3:00 am local time, a Hughes 369C (helicopter), registered N9227F, was destroyed in an accident near Papua. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DUE TO A RESTRICTION OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1991 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Papua, PP
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369C · all 369Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9227F · no longer on the register · serial 1140665S
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, WITH ONE PASSENGER, WAS ON A FLIGHT BETWEEN TWO TUNA FISHING VESSELS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS. AS THE PILOT BEGAN A CLIMB FROM ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE WATER, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE CYCLIC CONTROL WAS BINDING IN ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO CLIMB UNTIL IT REACHED A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE PILOT APPLIED RUDDER PEDAL TO SWING THE NOSE DOWN. THE HELICOPTER THEN DESCENDED RAPIDLY TO THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN WHERE A FLOAT ATTACHED TO THE LANDING GEAR SKID CONTACTED THE WATER. THE FLOATS WERE TORN OFF AND THE HELICOPTER CARTWHEELED AND SANK. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT RECOVERED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 110 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,756 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 24, 1991; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sardina & Cileu Mgt. INC.
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.