# NTSB CHI74AC037: Hughes 269B, N9342F, Springfield, OH, October 16, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 16, 1973
- Place: Springfield, OH · SPRINGFIELD, OH
- Location: 39.9289° N, 83.7942° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Springfield, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9289&lon=-83.7942&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 11, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187789
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI74AC037
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC037

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3968  73/10/16   SPRINGFIELD,OHIO    HUGHES 269B         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 47, 7135
        TIME - 0930                    N9342F              PX-  1  0  0  MAPPING/PHOTO             TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TREMONT CITY,OHIO           LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LWR COUPLING DRIVE SHAFT P/N 269A5504-3 FRACTURED AS RESULT OF REVERSE TORSIONAL FATIGUE STRESSES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9342F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9342F-1974-02-26), registration cancelled 1974-02-26, S/N 0043, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269B
- Registry model: [Hughes 269B](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (registry code 4470502) (OpenAirDocs)
- 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 19731016041629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731016041629A), Oct 16, 1973: Hughes 269C, Springfield, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lwr coupling drive shaft p/n 269A5504-3 fractured as result of reverse torsional fatigue stresses.

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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