Hughes 269A-1 accident near Canby, Oregon, June 13, 1991
On June 13, 1991 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Hughes 269A-1 (helicopter), registered N8944F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Canby, Oregon. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A HARD LANDING AFTER AN UNDETERMINED LOSS OF POWER. FACTORS INCLUDE AN EXCESSIVE EMERGENCY DESCENT RATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1991 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Canby, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A-1 · all 269A-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8944F · registry record · serial 15-0021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE HUGHES 269A-1 STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS WHILE SPRAYING CHRISTMAS TREES WITH HERBICIDE. AS THE ROTOR SPEED BEGAN TO DECAY HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY TO A CLEARING ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE AWAY. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO TURN INTO SOME TREES AND THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO AVOID IMPACTING THEM WITH EXCESSIVE REAR CYCLIC. AT THAT POINT THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED ABOUT 50 FEET TO 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Noble Helicopters, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.