# NTSB ANC78DA061: Hughes 500-C, N8318F, Ketchikan, AK, July 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 29, 1978
- Place: Ketchikan, AK · KETCHIKAN, AK
- Location: 55.3571° N, 131.6746° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ketchikan, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.3571&lon=-131.6746&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139427
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC78DA061
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78DA061

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3531  78/7/29  NR.KETCHIKAN,AK       HUGHES 500-C        CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 3022
        TIME - 1330                    N8318F              PX-  0  0  1  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          PENINSULA POINT,AK          KLAWOCK LAKE,AK              BEAVER CREEK,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: TAIL ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - VIBRATION,EXCESSIVE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
                                  UNUSUAL NOISE
        REMARKS- T/R BLADE PROTECTIVE TAPE CAME OFF IN FLT.PILOT COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8318F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8318F-1981-10-13), registration cancelled 1981-10-13, S/N 1050777S (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 500-C
- Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780729040039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780729040039A), Jul 29, 1978: Hughes 369HE, Ketchikan, AK, Substantial damage. T/r blade protective tape came off in flt. Pilot could not identifoblem.

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.

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