# NTSB ATL81FA034: Hughes 269C, N7437F, Viper, KY, January 10, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 10, 1981
- Place: Viper, KY · VIPER, KY
- Location: 37.1829° N, 83.1482° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Viper, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1829&lon=-83.1482&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126792
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0313  81/1/10    VIPER,KY            HUGHES 269C         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 2500
        TIME - 1230                    N7437F              PX-  0  0  0  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED      TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHAVIES,KY                  LEATHERWOOD,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: MAIN ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: ENGINE DRIVE SHAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PREVIOUS DAMAGE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LOWER COUPLING DRIVE SHAFT,PN 269A5504,FAILED.FRACTURE RESEMBLES FATIGUE FR UNLOADED ENG OVRSPEED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7437F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810110031789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810110031789A), Jan 10, 1981: Hughes 269C, Viper, KY, Destroyed. Helicopter crashed in wooded area on mountain. No witness saw crash.

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.