# NTSB FTW78FQG29: Hughes 369HS, N9066F, Brownfield, TX, May 8, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 8, 1978
- Place: Brownfield, TX · BROWNFIELD, TX
- Location: 33.1755° N, 102.2734° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brownfield, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1755&lon=-102.2734&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142169
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FQG29
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FQG29

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0668   78/5/8  NR.BROWNFIELD,TX      HUGHES 369HS        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 64, 5551
        TIME - 1620                    N9066F              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BROWNFIELD,TX                PLAINVIEW,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOCAL WHIRLWIND
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      70
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          315                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ACFT TURNED DOWNWIND AT LOW ALT AFTER TKOF AND FLEW INTO LOCAL WHIRLWIND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9066F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9066F-1981-10-15), registration cancelled 1981-10-15, S/N 110276S (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19780508008509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780508008509A), May 8, 1978: Hughes 369HS, Brownfield, TX, Destroyed. Acft turned downwind at low alt after tkof and flew into local whind.

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.

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