Hughes 269C — registry & accident history
Compiled from FAA & NTSB records · as of Jul 23, 2026
There are 588 Hughes 269C airframes on record (built 1966–1991), 73 currently registered. 18 have one or more NTSB accident records (18 records total, 2 with a fatal highest-injury classification). Data as of Jul 23, 2026.
Recent Hughes 269C accidents
The pilot's failure to see and avoid a powerline while flying at low altitude over a river.
The loss of engine power during a practice autorotation for an undetermined reason.
The pilot’s decision to relinquish the helicopter flight controls to a non-rated passenger during a 3 ft hover.
The pilot’s inappropriate descent profile during landing with a quartering gusting tailwind, which resulted in a loss of main rotor rpm.
The pilot's failure to reset the cyclic trim before takeoff, which resulted in ground resonance.
The improper execution of an autorotation following the loss of engine power, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's lack of remedial action during the autorotation.
The helicopter flight instructor candidate's improper execution of the autorotation, resulting in abnormal ground contact and subsequent damage to the vertical stabilizer and tail rotor drive assembly.
The non-helicopter rated pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in impact with terrain.