# NTSB DEN79DTE58: Hughes 269A, N8764F, Vineland, CO, July 12, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 12, 1979
- Place: Vineland, CO · VINELAND, CO
- Location: 38.2447° N, 104.4599° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vineland, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2447&lon=-104.4599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135153
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79DTE58
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79DTE58

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1528  79/7/12    VINELAND,CO         HUGHES 269A         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 1605
        TIME - 0900                    N8764F              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 266 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VINELAND,CO                 VINELAND,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     270
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1605                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  4700                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UPWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- SETTLING INTO WIRES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8764F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Dirt Strip

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19790712015229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790712015229A), Jul 12, 1979: Hughes 269A, Vineland, CO, Substantial damage. Attempted to avoid power lines during descent for spray run. Allowed rotor speed to decay. Hard landing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.