# Accident 20020807027779A: Hughes 369A, Springfield, MO, August 7, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 7, 2002, 10:20 local time
- Place: Springfield, MO
- Airport: Springfield Downtown Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2150° N, 93.2261° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2150&lon=-93.2261&mi=10
- Aircraft: N98MP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98MP-2013-07-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 369A (registry code 4470503, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02TA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02TA239) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020807027779A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N98MP, A PUBLIC USE ROTOR CRAFT OPERATED BY THE MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL, HAD JUST DEPARTED THE SPRINGFIELD, MO DOWNTOWN AIRPORT (3DW) ON A SOUTH EASTERLY HEADING WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED AND DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE HELICOPTER MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A GRASSY AREA NEXT TO HIGHWAY 65 APPROXIMATELY ONE-EIGHTH OF A MILE FROM THE POINT THAT THE TAIL ROTOR FAILED. ON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND, THE LEFT SKID SEPARATED AND THE CRAFT ROLLED ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE HELICOPTER OUT THE RIGHT DOOR. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 CHI02TA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02TA239), Aug 7, 2002: Hughes 369A (N98MP), Springfield, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Overload failure of the tail rotor transmission housing (gearbox) for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an inability to adequately control the aircraft.

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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