Hughes 269C accident near Prineville, Oregon, May 12, 1988
On May 12, 1988 at about 1:40 am local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N751AM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prineville, Oregon (Prineville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- May 12, 1988 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Prineville, Oregon · Prineville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N751AM · registry record · serial 1280741
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REDUCED POWER FOR LANDING AND A HIGH SINK RATE DEVELOPED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE POWER TO CORRECT THE SINK RATE BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. ROTOR RPM'S WERE DIMINISHING, SO THE PLT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO REGAIN RPM'S. THE PILOT ELECTED MAKE AN AUTOROTATION. THE PILOT HELD THE HELICOPTER IN A FLARE UNTIL AIRSPEED WAS EXHAUSTED. AT ABOUT 5 FEET AGL THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED VERTICALLY UNTIL IT STRUCK THE GROUND, BREAKING OFF THE RIGHT SKID. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE STRIKING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES.
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: helicopter
- Flight time: 284 hours in all; 209 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 178 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDM Redmond OR
- Destination: S39 Prineville OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.