On November 17, 2001, a Hughes 269C (registration N9294F) was involved in an aviation accident near Richmond, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power line while landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot without helicopter rating attempted to land near a friend's house when main rotor blades struck power lines, resulting in a hard landing. The helicopter sustained substantial damage including a severed tailboom and bent rotor blades.
Accident Details
A private pilot, who was not helicopter rated, was attempting to land a helicopter in a grass field near a friend's house. During the landing approach, the main rotor blades contacted overhead power lines. The helicopter subsequently landed hard and came to rest upright in the field.
Aircraft Damage
The impact with the power lines and the subsequent hard landing resulted in significant structural damage. The tailboom was severed by the main rotor blades, which also became bent and fractured. The landing skids were spread up and outward, becoming level with the bottom of the cabin section. The helicopter came to rest upright in the grass field.