Hughes 269C accident near Altoona, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1985
On August 10, 1985 at about 7:07 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N8615E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. 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 10, 1985 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Altoona, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8615E · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WITH CFI/OWNER AND STUDENT WHO WAS FLYING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OVER HIGH TERRAIN AT ABOUT 70 MPH REPORTED A GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL AND ATTEMPTED TO EFFECT AN AIRSTART. THIS WAS WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE PLT THEN ATTEMPTED TO ARREST THE DESCENT BUT ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND WITH SUCH FORCE IT BROKE UP ON IMPACT. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SKIDS COLLAPSED, TAIL BOOM AND ROTOR WERE SEPARATED AT APRX THE 180 STATION, AND LOCATED APRX 25 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. DUAL CONTROLS WERE INSTALLED, EXCEPT ON THE RIGHT SIDE THERE WERE NO TORQUE PEDALS ATTACHED TO THE TORQUE CONTROL STUBS. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AND ENG DISCLOSED ONE MAGNETO WAS OFF ON IT'S TIMING AND THE MAGNETO HAD LOST APRX 43% OF IT'S MAGNETISM. BOTH MAGNETOS CONTAINED OIL AND CARBON BRUSH WEAR.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Patton PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from AOO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.