Hughes 269B accident near Laurel, Montana, September 27, 2000
On September 27, 2000 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Hughes 269B (helicopter), registered N9503F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laurel, Montana (Laurel Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure to maintain aircraft control during hover operations. Inadequate remedial action by the pilot was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2000 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Laurel, Montana · Laurel Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269B · all 269Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9503F · no longer on the register · serial 1060271
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While practicing takeoffs and landings, the student pilot inadvertently applied excessive collective input during the second takeoff of his first solo flight, and the helicopter climbed to approximately 12 feet AGL. This action resulted in a decay of rotor RPM and loss of tail rotor effectiveness, followed by a yaw to the right. The pilot was unable to regain control of the helicopter as it continued to spin, and ascending to approximately 50 feet AGL. After 2-3, 360-degree revolutions, the helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. No mechanical difficulties or malfunctions were reported.
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: student
- Flight time: 13 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6S8 Laurel MT at 11:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from BIL, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.