Hughes 269C accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1983
On September 9, 1983 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N1103K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (N.E. Philadelphia airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1983 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · N.E. Philadelphia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1103K · no longer on the register · serial 700945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A STEEL DRAINAGE CULVERT HIDDEN IN THE GRASS AND ROLLED OVER DURING A SIMULATED HIGH ALT RUNNING TAKEOFF. THIS WAS AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. THE SKID HIT THE CULVERT WHICH EXTENDED ABOUT 3-4 INCHES AGL, 3 FT OF THE SKID BROKE OFF AND THE HELICOPTER WENT OVER ON ITS BACK. TAKEOFF AREA WAS TO THE RIGHT OF A HARD SURFACE RWY. THE AREA IS 200 FT WIDE WITH DRAINS 2 FT WIDE AND 500 FT APART IN THE CENTER. THE GRASS WAS ABOUT 2 INCHES ABOVE THE DRAIN LIP.
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; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 820 hours in all; 467 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 740 as pilot in command; 120 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,070 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1983; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PNE Philadelphia PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from PNE, 1 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.