# Accident 19891027043679A: Hughes 369D, Neah Bay, WA, October 27, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 27, 1989, 11:30 local time
- Place: Neah Bay, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 48.3293° N, 124.6307° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3293&lon=-124.6307&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9163F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9163F-1998-03-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,796 total, 3,512 in this make and model, 332 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA90LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA010) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891027043679A

## Narrative

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

TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX SEPARATED. CRASH LANDED. MARKS INDICATE GEAR BOX AND FATIGUE CRACKS ON STUDES EXISTED LONG TIME

## 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 SEA90LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA010), Oct 27, 1989: Hughes 369D (N9163F), Neah Bay, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: FATIGUE FAILURE OF ALL FOUR ATTACHMENT STUDS OF THE TAILROTOR GEARBOX RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE GEAR BOX, AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION.

## Other reports on N9163F (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19800111000089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800111000089A), Jan 11, 1980: Hughes 369D (N9163F), Diane, KY, Destroyed. Helicopter hit wires on approach to landing site. Fell straight down after wire strike.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.