# NTSB FTW81FRA30: Hughes 269C, N7413F, Houston, TX, May 13, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 13, 1981
- Place: Houston, TX · HOUSTON, TX
- Location: 29.7633° N, 95.3633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houston, TX, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7633&lon=-95.3633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 12, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125255
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRA30
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRA30

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1987  81/5/13    HOUSTON,TX          HUGHES 269C         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 4200
        TIME - 2000                    N7413F              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1021 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        REMARKS- OBSD AT LOW ALT,NOSED OVR IN CHANNEL.PLT STATED ENG LOST PWR AT NGT,SKID HIT WTR BFR FLARING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7413F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7413F-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 160463, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- 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 19810513072939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810513072939A), May 13, 1981: Hughes 269C, Houston, TX, Destroyed. Pilot claims engine failure during low level flight over water caused crash. No cause for malfunction found.

## Other investigations on N7413F (2)

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 ATL97LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA103), Jul 13, 1997: Hughes 269C (N7413F), Johnston, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain the proper rotor RPM during the approach and flare for landing.
- [NTSB MIA78FKG67](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FKG67), Jul 30, 1978: Hughes 269C (N7413F), Buena Vista, GA, destroyed

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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