# NTSB IAD77FID18: Hughes 269, N7451F, Richmond, VA, May 5, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 5, 1977
- Place: Richmond, VA · RICHMOND, VA
- Location: 37.5538° N, 77.4603° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Richmond, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5538&lon=-77.4603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158268
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD77FID18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77FID18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1012   77/5/5    RICHMOND, VA        HUGHES 269          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 2549
        TIME - 0800                    N7451F              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, 2028 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RICHMOND, VA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: VERTICAL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        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                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     HEAD WIND 338-022 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          220                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR ENTANGLEMENT IN VEGETATION
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7451F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7451F-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 660514, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19770505012199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770505012199A), May 5, 1977: Hughes 269C, Richmond, VA, Substantial damage. Tail rotor entanglement in vegetation

## Other investigations on N7451F (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 ATL86LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86LA005), Oct 10, 1985: Hughes 269C (N7451F), Chapman, AL, 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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