On June 3, 1987, a Hughes 269C (registration N9606F) was involved in an aviation accident near Vancouver, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A mechanical failure during landing that caused violent vibration and subsequent fire, though the exact component failure could not be determined due to severe fire damage. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A violent vibration followed by a fire during a practice landing destroyed the aircraft. Metallurgical analysis was inconclusive due to severe fire damage.
What happened
The incident occurred during a practice run-on landing maneuver. As the aircraft touched down, it began to vibrate violently. Almost simultaneously, a fire broke out on board. Both pilots involved in the flight and an independent eyewitness confirmed that the approach and initial touchdown were executed smoothly, with no unusual handling characteristics reported prior to the mechanical event. The pilots indicated that something mechanical had failed or detached during the landing sequence.
The investigation
Investigators attempted to determine the root cause by examining the wreckage. However, the fire that ensued was intense enough to cause severe destruction of the airframe and its components. Consequently, standard examination and metallurgical analysis could not yield conclusive results regarding the specific mechanical failure.
Probable cause
A mechanical failure during landing that caused violent vibration and subsequent fire, though the exact component failure could not be determined due to severe fire damage.
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