N9061R – Hughes 269A – 1997-02-07 NTSB Accident Report

On February 07, 1997, a Hughes 269A (N9061R) was involved in an incident near Homosassa, FL. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The unqualified person's poor judgment, by taking the helicopter without the owner's permission and attempting an unauthorized flight at night; and his failure (or inability) to maintain control the helicopter. Darkness was a related factor.

On February 7, 1997, about 0100 eastern standard time, a Hughes 269A, N9061R, registered to Crystal River Helicopters, Inc., crashed during an attempt to steal the helicopter from the operators facility at Homosassa, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the unauthorized flight. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the non-rated pilot was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the owner/operator of the helicopter, an unqualified person attempted to steal the helicopter from his helipad located on the company property. The helicopter was first discovered with the tailboom separated and the main structure elevated and in an upright position. There was no postcrash fire.

This incident is documented in NTSB report MIA97LA084. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9061R.