# NTSB LAX78FUA22: Hughes 269B, N9566F, Long Beach, CA, August 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 4, 1978
- Place: Long Beach, CA · LONG BEACH, CA
- Location: 33.7670° N, 118.1892° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Long Beach, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7670&lon=-118.1892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FUA22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUA22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1936   78/8/4    LONG BEACH,CA       HUGHES 269B         CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             PRIVATE, AGE 22, 102
        TIME - 1330                    N9566F              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      TOTAL HOURS, 38 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LONG BEACH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LONG BEACH,CA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAXI: AERIAL TAXI TO/FROM LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        REMARKS- A/C IN HOVER TURN STRUCK LEFT SKID IN NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.MAIN ROTOR MAST SEPARATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9566F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9566F-1993-05-27), registration cancelled 1993-05-27, S/N 210458 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269B
- Registry model: [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (registry code 4470502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Long Beach

## 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 19780804022519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780804022519A), Aug 4, 1978: Hughes 269B, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. A/c in hover turn struck left skid in nose low attitude. Main rotost separated.

## Other investigations on N9566F (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 LAX93LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA063), Dec 7, 1992: Hughes 269B (N9566F), Kahului, HI, destroyed. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM DURING DOWNWIND FLIGHT AND ADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO RECOVER THE LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR RPM BEFORE SETTLING INTO THE WATER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS…
- [NTSB LAX77FUA02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FUA02), Dec 14, 1976: Hughes 269B (N9566F), Long Beach, CA, substantial damage

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.
