# NTSB MIA69D0466: Hughes 269A, N8803F, Eustis, FL, April 20, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 20, 1969
- Place: Eustis, FL · EUSTIS, FL
- Location: 28.8572° N, 81.6768° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eustis, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8572&lon=-81.6768&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190363
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA69D0466
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA69D0466

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1274  69/4/20    EUSTIS,FLA          HUGHES 269A         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1000                    N8803F              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 25, 278 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            35 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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                                                      72
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           50                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -   50                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - FRUIT ORCHARDS                            TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  150                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- SETTLED INTO TREE TOPS.HEAVILY LOADED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8803F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8803F-1982-05-21), registration cancelled 1982-05-21, S/N 1120134 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A
- Registry model: [Hughes 269A](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (registry code 4470402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N8803F (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 DEN74FTE04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74FTE04), Jul 6, 1973: Hughes 269A1 (N8803F), Ft.Collins, CO, substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC67A0041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC67A0041), Aug 30, 1966: Hughes 269A (N8803F), Montoursville, PA, 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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