Hughes 269C accident near Tarpon Springs, Florida, May 18, 1991
On May 18, 1991 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N10MY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tarpon Springs, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DELAY BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO APPLY ADEQUATE THROTTLE & COLLECTIVE DURING TRANSITION OFF A DOCK FOR A TAKEOFF OVER A LAKE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1991 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tarpon Springs, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N10MY · registry record · serial 270569
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RAISED THE HELICOPTER TO A 3 FT HOVER OVER A DOCK & WHILE TRANSITIONING TO FWD FLT OVER A LAKE, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO DESCENT. HE STATED THAT HE PULLED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL & APPLIED THROTTLE TO STOP THE DESCENT BUT THE SKIDS CONTACTED THE WATER. HE THEN ROLLED THE HELICOPTER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE TO STOP THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES & BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE ACFT. THE ENG WAS STARTED & FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 685 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,157 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 1991; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: M.Y. Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Destination: X49 Mulberry FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.