Hughes 269A accident near Fort White, Florida, April 2, 2022
On April 2, 2022 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1967 Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N7057L, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Fort White, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to fly a visual flight rules only helicopter in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2022 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort White, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A, built 1967 · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N7057L · registry record · serial 1281052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The weather when the non-instrument-rated helicopter pilot initiated the flight included a ceiling of 250 ft mean sea level (msl) and visibility of ½ mile, which corresponded to instrument meteorological conditions. After flying for 15 minutes, the helicopter “entered a wall of fog.” The pilot attempted to turn the helicopter around and return to an area of better visibility; however, the tail rotor impacted trees. The pilot did not realize that the helicopter was in a right turn and reduced engine power. The helicopter descended to ground in a bank, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and rotor blades. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. According to the helicopter owner’s maintenance and flight manual, “instrument flight [is] prohibited.”
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Instrument flight capability › Related operating info
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below VFR minima › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total instrument experience › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,948.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2021; 6.3 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 6,616 hours total
- Operator: Tri County Rentals And Sales INC
The flight
- Departed from: 15FL Lake City FL at 2:15 pm
- Destination: Trenton FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 200 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 am from GNV, 29 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGNV 021335Z 10004KT 1/4SM FG VV002 18/18 A3004 RMK AO2 T01830178
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA22LA180.