Hughes 269A accident near Jacksonville, Florida, February 4, 1993
On February 4, 1993 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N711CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida. It was an aerial observation 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
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MONITOR FUEL QUANTITY DUE TO INATTENTIVENESS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER USE OF THE COLLECTIVE FLIGHT CONTROL DURING THE SOFT FIELD AUTOROTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 1993 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N711CH · registry record · serial 0531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE HELICOPTER. ABOUT 40 MINUTES LATER DURING THE TERMINATION OF THE TRAFFIC WATCH WHEN ON APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN FOLLOWING THE AUTOROTATION, THE SKIDS DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 664 hours in all; 157 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 215 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,149 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1993; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 23J at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from CRG, 9 miles away
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.