Hughes 369D accident near Fishers Island, New York, August 19, 1984
On August 19, 1984 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N6666C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fishers Island, New York (Elizabeth Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were 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
- August 19, 1984 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Fishers Island, New York · Elizabeth Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N6666C · no longer on the register · serial 990D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) STATED THAT HE WAS TEACHING HIS STUDENT AUTOROTATION'S TO TOUCHDOWN. HE CONTINUED TO STATE THAT HIS STUDENT APPLIED TOO MUCH LEFT PEDAL JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THIS CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO YAW TO THE LEFT. THE CFI STATED HE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL AND THE HELICOPTER STRAIGHTENED OUT BUT JUST AS THEY TOUCHED DOWN, THE STUDENT PULLED BACK ON THE CYCLIC CAUSING THE TAIL TO HIT THE GROUND.
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: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,703 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 283 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 12, 1984; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FOK West Hampton NY at 1:50 pm
- Destination: 87N South Hampton NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 2,054 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | 2 |
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.