# Accident 20080704839749A: Hughes 269C1, Livermore, CA, July 4, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2008, 00:30 local time
- Place: Livermore, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5617° N, 121.9050° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5617&lon=-121.9050&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2011A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2011A-2013-10-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer 269C-1 (registry code 8059504, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HO-360 series (registry code 41513, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C1
- Reported engine: LYC HO360C1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 750 total, 585 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA213) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080704839749A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE EYE WITNESS SAID THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING "VERY LOW AND VERY SLOW," ALONG I-680 SOUTH BOUND SO HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP SPEED WITH IT IN HIS FIRE DEPARTMENT SUV.  AT ONE POINT, WITH THE HELICOPTER RIGHT ABOVE HIM, ANDERSON ROLLED DOWN HIS WINDOW AND LISTENED TO THE AIRCRAFTS ENGINE.  IT DIDN'T SOUND UNUSUAL HE SAID.  VISIBILITY WAS LOW AS THE HELICOPTER FLEW OVER THE HILLSIDE AND STRUCK 60,000 VOLT TRANSMISSION LINES THAT BEGAN TO ARC.  THE SKY LIT UP WITH WHITE FLAMES THE HELICOPTER BURST IN TO FLAMES FALLING TO THE ROADWAY.  THE WITNESS STATED "IT APPEARS HE WAS TRYING TO FIND HIS WAY UNDER THE CLOUD COVER THAT'S WHY HE WAS GOING SO SLOW."

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX08LA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA213), Jul 4, 2008: Schweizer 269 C-1 (N2011A), Sunol, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilots' failure to maintain adequate clearance from transmission wires during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident were the dark night and low fog.

## Other reports on N2011A (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20050930024989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050930024989I), Sep 30, 2005: Hughes 269C1 (N2011A), San Jose, CA. (-23) The # three cylinder head separated from the barrel of the cylinder assembly during cruise flight. An emergency landing was made with no further incident.
- [Incident 19990509026132I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990509026132I), May 9, 1999: Hughes 269C (N2011A), San Jose, CA. (-5) On Sunday, may 9, 199, at approximately 10:52 am, local time, a helicopter N2011A was cleared to air taxi to and cleared for take off from an area called…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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