Hughes 269B accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey, May 5, 1991
On May 5, 1991 at about 9:30 am local time, a Hughes 269B (helicopter), registered N3TL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey (Lincoln Park airport). It was a ferry 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
AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DURING A HOVER DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPLETELY USE THE MINIMAL VISUAL REFERENCES AVAILABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1991 · about 9:30 am local time
- Place
- Lincoln Park, New Jersey · Lincoln Park
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269B · all 269Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3TL · no longer on the register · serial 34-0042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER TO A LOW HOVER. IN THE HOVER, THE PILOT LOST VISUAL REFERENCE AND ENTERED A RIGHT TURN, ROTATING 270 DEGREES PRIOR TO THE PILOT INITIATING CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED ANOTHER 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT PRIOR TO TOUCHING DOWN. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT SKID BROKE OFF AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED PRIOR TO SUNRISE AND THE PILOT HAD A MECHANIC SHINE A FLASHLIGHT ON THE DUAL TACH FOR ILLUMINATION. THERE WERE MINIMAL OUTSIDE REFERENCES. WHEN INTERVIEWED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT SAID HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, HOWEVER, HE DID NOT ROLL OFF THE THROTTLE OR USE FULL LEFT PEDAL. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE EXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE HELICOPTER.
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: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: N53 East Stroudsber PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.