What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On November 15, 2003, at approximately 1015 local, a Hughes 369-A, registration number N536, helicopter impacted terrain after losing the aft section of the tail boom. N536, was on a FAR part 61 training flight, and had moments earlier made a touchdown autorotation where a witness reported hearing a loud pop (like a 22 caliber gunshot). The crew stated they had not heard or felt anything unusual during or after the autorotation. The climb out of N536, was normal. At approximately 50 knots and 150-200 foot AGL the helicopter briefly shuttered and the aft section of the tail boom departed the helicopter. The helicopter's fuselage started to spin and came to rest in a thicket of 25-30 foot pine trees. There were no injuries to the crew, but the helicopter has substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON NOVEMBER 15, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 1015 LOCAL, A HUGHES 369-A, REGISTRATION NUMBER N536, HELICOPTER IMPACTED TERRAIN AFTER LOSING THE AFT SECTION OF THE TAIL BOOM. N536, WAS ON A FAR PART 61 TRAINING FLIGHT, AND HAD MOMENTS EARLIER MADE A TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION WHERE A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP (LIKE A 22 CALIBER GUNSHOT). THE CREW STATED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OR FELT ANYTHING UNUSUAL DURING OR AFTER THE AUTOROTATION. THE CLIMB OUT OF N536, WAS NORMAL. AT APPROXIMATELY 50 KNOTS AND 150-200 FOOT AGL THE HELICOPTER BRIEFLY SHUTTERED AND THE AFT SECTION OF THE TAIL BOOM DEPARTED THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER'S FUSELAGE STARTED TO SPIN AND CAME TO REST IN A THICKET OF 25-30 FOOT PINE TREES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE CREW, BUT THE HELICOPTER HAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.