# NTSB ATL81DLA13: Hughes 269A-1, N8935F, Sale City, GA, August 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 15, 1981
- Place: Sale City, GA · SALE CITY, GA
- Location: 31.2629° N, 84.0208° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sale City, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2629&lon=-84.0208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81DLA13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81DLA13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2064  81/8/15    SALE CITY,GA        HUGHES 269A-1       CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 2185
        TIME - 1300                    N8935F              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALE CITY,GA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: TAIL ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - VIBRATION,EXCESSIVE
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SIDES                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  350                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - SECOND 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- TAIL ROTOR TIP CAP SEPARATED FM BLADE & TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8935F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8935F-2014-11-20), registration cancelled 2014-11-20, S/N 34-0007, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269A-1
- Registry model: [Hughes 269A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a-1) (registry code 4470404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- 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 19810815049759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810815049759A), Aug 15, 1981: Hughes 269A, Sale City, GA, Substantial damage. Helicopter spun out of control and crashed during swath run. Tail rotor blade failure.

## Other investigations on N8935F (2)

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 MIA70F0127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA70F0127), Jul 14, 1969: Hughes 269-A (N8935F), Cochran, GA, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA69F0153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA69F0153), Aug 2, 1968: Hughes 269A (N8935F), Saluda, SC, substantial damage

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.

---
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.