# Accident 19810309010319A: Hughes 369D, Madera, CA, March 9, 1981

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 9, 1981, 16:00 local time
- Place: Madera, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 36.9662° N, 120.0859° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Madera, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9662&lon=-120.0859&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8681F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8681F-2013-05-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,910 total, 1,060 in this make and model, 141 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX81DVA27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVA27) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810309010319A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT COUPLING SEPARATED WHILE IN HOVER WITH SLING LOAD. HIT GROUND IN SPINNING MOTION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 LAX81DVA27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVA27), Mar 9, 1981: Hughes 369D (N8681F), Madera, CA, substantial damage

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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