Have any questions? Call us: Carter Capner Law monitors accidents involving light aircraft, helicopters, charter flights, balloons, commuter aircraft and airlines throughout Australia and overseas to spotlight safety issues of concern to our clients and to demonstrate those situations in which they may have a right to an insurance or compensation recovery. We act for pilots, passengers, operators, aircraft owners and aviation employees worldwide. Call today on 1300 529 529 or click here to reach Carter Capner Law. Click on Client Showcase to view our history of aircraft accident compensation claims.
Date:
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time:
14:45 Local Time
Type of Aircraft:
Hughes 269
Owner/Operator:
Not specified
Registration:
Not specified
MSN:
Not specified
Year of Manufacture:
Not specified
Engine Model:
Not specified
Fatalities:
0 / Occupants: 1
Other Fatalities:
0
Aircraft Damage:
Substantial
Category:
Accident
Location:
34.6 km southeast (134°) from Quirindi Aerodrome, NSW – Australia
Phase:
En route (descent)
Nature:
Private
Departure Airport:
YLMQ
Destination Airport:
Not specified
Investigating Agency:
ATSB
Confidence Rating:
Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities
Circumstances:
On October 5, 2025, a Hughes 269 helicopter was involved in an accident near Quirindi, New South Wales.
At approximately 14:45 local time, during descent, the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated an autorotation in response to the engine failure and attempted a forced landing. The helicopter subsequently collided with terrain, resulting in substantial damage.
The sole pilot onboard survived the accident but sustained unspecified injuries. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed the occurrence and recorded it as a case of power loss due to fuel exhaustion — a recurring causal factor in light helicopter accidents.
The event underscores the importance of strict fuel planning and inflight monitoring, particularly for older piston-engine rotorcraft such as the Hughes 269, which has limited endurance margins and no automatic low-fuel warnings on early variants.
Sources:
ATSB
Carter Capner Law monitors accidents involving light aircraft, helicopters, charter flights, balloons, commuter aircraft and airlines throughout Australia and overseas to spotlight safety issues of concern to our clients and to demonstrate those situations in which they may have a right to an insurance or compensation recovery. We act for pilots, passengers, operators, aircraft owners and aviation employees worldwide. Call today on 1300 529 529 or click here to reach Carter Capner Law. Click on Client Showcase to view our history of aircraft accident compensation claims.