Hughes 269C accident near Lamont, Washington, May 10, 1995
On May 10, 1995 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N7443F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lamont, Washington. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND AN INADEQUATE AUTOROTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1995 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lamont, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7443F · no longer on the register · serial 460499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT AFTER MAINTENANCE, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. AN AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED TO AN OPEN FIELD WHERE THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. DOCUMENTATION OF THE WRECKAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATED EVIDENCE OF A LOW ROTOR RPM AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. DURING THE POST-CRASH ENGINE INSPECTION, NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE CYCLIC CONTROL WAS 'TOUGH TO CONTROL.' EXAMINATION OF THE CONTROL SYSTEM DID NOT REVEAL ANY ABNORMALITIES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,214 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1995; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lind WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- 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.