# Accident 19961204037109A: Hughes 269C, Mayfield, KY, December 4, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 4, 1996, 15:35 local time
- Place: Mayfield, KY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.7303° N, 88.6391° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7303&lon=-88.6391&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1105P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1105P-1997-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269C (registry code 4470504, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD97LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA028) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961204037109A

## Narrative

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

HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A POWER FAILURE AND SKIDS STRUCK A FENCE. (-23) PILOT STATES THAT IN CRUISE FLIGHT, APPROX. ALTITUDE 1500', HE  EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR.  THE PASSENGER ON BOARD WAS A CERTIFICATED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC.  HE STATES HE OBSERVED THE TAIL ROTOR TO STOP ROTATION.  THE PILOT INITIATED AUTOROTATION AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE JUST PRIOR TO THE SELECTED EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.  ON SITE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY INSPECTOR VITERNA OF THIS OFFICE  REVEALED THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX, THE TAIL ROTOR AND ASSOCIATED  COMPONENTS TO BE INTACT. DUE TO DAMAGE, MR. VITERNA COULD NOT DETERMINE CONDITION OF DRIVE SHAFT COMPONENTS.

## 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 IAD97LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA028), Dec 4, 1996: Hughes 269C (N1105P), Mayfield, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: disengagement of the main transmission aft pinion nut, allowing the tail rotor splined drive sleeve to disengage from the pinion, which resulted in loss of directional control and an emergency…

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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