Hughes 269C accident near Bloomington, Minnesota, September 28, 1989
On September 28, 1989 at about 11:50 am local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N95KS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bloomington, Minnesota. 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
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. THE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DAWN AND THE VEHICLES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1989 · about 11:50 am local time
- Place
- Bloomington, Minnesota · 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
- N95KS · registry record · serial 1180735
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING FLOWN ON AN EARLY MORNING, RUSH HOUR, TRAFFIC WATCH. THE PLT RPRTD THE HELICOPTER WAS AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL & 20 KTS WHEN THE ENG FAILED. HE BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION TO A PARKING LOT. JUST BEFORE LANDING, HE SAW THE LIGHTS OF A CAR AS IT ENTERED INTO THE PARKING LOT. WITH PARKED CARS ELSEWHERE IN THE PARKING LOT, HE ELECTED TO SHORTEN HIS APCH PATH TO LAND IN ANOTHER AREA. AFTER SLOWING THE HELICOPTER TO LAND AT THE ALTERNATE LOCATION, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT INERTIA LEFT IN THE ROTOR BLADES TO CUSHION THE LANDING. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD, DAMAGING THE UNDERCARRIAGE. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED BETWEEN THE #2 & #3 CHEEKS. THE ENG HAD A TOTAL OPERATIONAL TIME OF 2373 HRS & HAD 998 HRS OF OPERATION SINCE THE LAST OVERHAUL.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,857 hours in all; 1,161 in this make and model; 1,516 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: J.R. Copter LTD.
The flight
- Departed from: STP St Paul MN at 11:00 am
- Destination: STP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from MSP, 15 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.