Hughes 269C accident near Hollywood, Florida, August 5, 1989
On August 5, 1989 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N81AM, was destroyed in an accident near Hollywood, Florida (North Perry airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SEVERE FUSELAGE VIBRATION (GROUND RESONANCE) AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION TO AVOID OR COMPENSATE FOR THE OCCURRENCE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW SHOCK STRUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1989 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Hollywood, Florida · North Perry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N81AM · no longer on the register · serial 700941
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING COCKPIT AND RUNUP PROCEDURES TO THE STUDENT, WHEN THE HELICOPTER BECAME LIGHT ON THE SKIDS WITH OPERATING RPM & GROUND RESONANCE DEVELOPED. THE INSTRUCTOR BOTTOMED THE PITCH & SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, BUT THE GROUND RESONANCE BECAME WORSE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TAIL BOOM WAS CHOPPED OFF BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, A FUEL CELL RUPTURED & A FIRE ERUPTED. ACCORDING TO AN FAA HANDBOOK (AC 61-13B), THE CORRECT PROCEDURE FOR GETTING OUT OF GROUND RESONANCE WAS TO LIFT OFF. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT FRONT SHOCK STRUT WAS LOW.
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: 750 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 600 as pilot in command; 275 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 4, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HWO
- Destination: HWO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:58 pm from HWO
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.