# NTSB MIA74AM096: Hughes 269C, N9621F, Key West, FL, May 23, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 23, 1974
- Place: Key West, FL · KEY WEST, FL
- Location: 24.5651° N, 81.7755° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Key West, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5651&lon=-81.7755&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 24, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128124
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA74AM096
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74AM096

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1826  74/5/23    KEY WEST,FLA        HUGHES 269C         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 25, 1900
        TIME - 1110                    N9621F              PX-  1  1  0  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NAS KEY WEST
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MARATHON,FLA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: SPARK PLUG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - EXCESSIVE-WEAR/PLAY
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED SPEED AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      84
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          170                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- TAIL BOOM STRUCK GROUND AND SEPARATED.7 SPARK PLUGS CKD,2 UNSERVICEABLE,3 BADLY WORN,2 OK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9621F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9621F-1975-06-02), registration cancelled 1975-06-02, S/N 800035, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Nas Key West

## 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 19740523020249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740523020249A), May 23, 1974: Hughes 269C, Key West, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Tail boom struck ground and separated.7 spark plugs ckd,2 unserviceable,3 badly worn,2 ok.

## Other investigations on N9621F (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 MIA72AM051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72AM051), Dec 3, 1971: Hughes 269C (N9621F), Hallandale, FL, 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.

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